Shoestring was a BBC television show set in Bristol. It featured a private detective with his own show on Radio West, the local radio station.
The programme ran between 30 September 1979 and 21 December 1980, in two series with 21 one hour-long episodes. Star Trevor Eve decided not to return to the role after two series, as he wanted to diversify into theatre roles, so the same production team changed the format to be based in Jersey and created Bergerac, also about a detective returning to work after a bad period in his life.
Room With a View (Episode 1)
Writer: Robert Banks Stewart
Air date: 1980-10-05
Overview: Retired music hall singer Lettie Ross witnesses a murder in the empty house opposite her flat, but when police and her daughter are dismissive, she calls in Eddie. His investigations lead to Duke Winsor, a slum landlord who has just purchased the house, and Alan Fuller, another potential buyer - who proves to be the victim. In the event the basement flat in Lettie's block, leased to concert performers, is the key to the affair.
The Teddy Bears' Nightmare (Episode 2)
Writer: Leslie Darbon
Air date: 1980-10-12
Overview: While out fishing, Don sees a thief rob a young couple of the woman's handbag but the couple themselves flee and fail to report the theft. Don retrieves the bag and Eddie traces it to Christine Page, who eventually admits that she and her married lover, Ken Bailey, are being blackmailed. However, the blackmailer is not after money...
Mocking Bird (Episode 3)
Writer: Robert Holmes
Air date: 1980-10-19
Overview: Young women are being mugged around the city and the perpetrator, a caller with an Ulster accent, keeps ringing Eddie and taunting him for his inability to catch him. Police are called in but smug inspector Healey is little help. After Sonia is attacked, Tom, a security guard at the station and former policeman, recognizes the caller's voice from his days as a hospital DJ and points Eddie towards him.
The Mayfly Dance (Episode 4)
Writer: Bill Craig
Air date: 1980-10-26
Overview: Don asks Eddie to locate Jody Brent, a once-popular singer whose big hit 'Lazy Daisy' is enjoying a revival on Radio West's easy listening show. Though Miriam, Jody's manager, claims he is in America, Eddie hears that he is living in Wales in seclusion. Mike Frewin, Jody's former bandmate, asks the station for royalties as he part wrote the song but is refused, after which he visits Vera who has requested it under the name of a girl who died twenty years earlier.
The Farmer Had a Wife (Episode 5)
Writer: Robert Holmes
Air date: 1980-11-02
Overview: To encourage more human interest stories, Don persuades Eddie to help watercress farmer David Mortimer, whose wife Rosemary has disappeared for a second time, and is being accused by other villagers of murdering her, to try and locate her. The trail leads to ex-doctor Knightley in whom she confided about her husband's jealous, controlling nature and with whom she had a child, now nine years old and adopted.
Utmost Good Faith (Episode 6)
Writer: Andrew Payne
Air date: 1980-11-09
Overview: After her debt-ridden husband Tim has killed himself, Mary Reynolds asks Eddie's help in discovering why her credit facilities have been stopped when the debt concerned was twelve years earlier and apparently cancelled. Eddie discovers that Tim was working on a computer which diagnosed faults in cars and that the debt collection firm harassing Mary is linked to a large computer company anxious to bankrupt small firms like the Reynolds'. By leaning on a former colleague who has joined the debt collectors through fraudulent means Eddie is able to help Mary but not, apparently, his own credit rating.
Looking for Mr Wright (Episode 7)
Writer: Robert Banks Stewart
Air date: 1980-11-16
Overview: Erica's secretary Lois meets charming Clive Wright through a dating agency but he disappears whilst they are in a restaurant and the staff and dating agency workers are equally unhelpful as to whether he existed.
Another Man's Castle (Episode 8)
Writer: Dave Humphries
Air date: 1980-12-07
Overview: Whilst Philip and Diana Hoskens are moving house the van containing all their furniture is stolen by a shady landlord called Terry Bowen to furnish a property he is letting to a young couple. One of them, Cleo, sells the colour television, which brings her into contact with Eddie, who's investigating the stolen furniture.
Where Was I? (Episode 9)
Writer: Peter Miller
Air date: 1980-12-14
Overview: Family man Keith Amery goes camping on the moors alone and sees a helicopter land but falls and hits his head, bringing on amnesia. On the advice of Eddie's old psychiatrist, Keith's wife asks Eddie to help Keith recall events, but with little success. Simultaneously, an Australian girl named Denise arrives at Radio West, claiming to be a presenter seeking tips from Eddie. Whilst Eddie is occupied with Denise, her associates track down and abduct Keith.
The Dangerous Game (Episode 10)
Writer: Chris Boucher
Air date: 1980-12-21
Overview: Market trader Pete Johnson deals in stolen goods, gives his young son Mike an early Christmas present, an electric racing game, but it's faulty and blows up, hospitalising the boy. Pete initially lies to hospital staff over the cause of his son's injuries but eventually produces a replacement, which indicates the game is manufactured by the Wings' toy company. However, Mr Wing informs Eddie that it was withdrawn because of the fault and stored in the warehouse. On examination, it's found that ten copies have been stolen. Eddie must track them down to ensure a merry Christmas.
