Series 5, Episode 3 - The Longest Night
Further details
Del, Rodney, and Albert are apprehended as shoplifters by an overzealous security guard at the Top Buy Supermarket. And things get worse when they're taken to the manager's office and realise that they've lost their receipt for the goods.
Shortly after, Tom the security guard brings a cocky shoplifter, Lennox Gilbey, into the manager's office, where he promptly pulls out a gun and demands money from the safe.
Unluckily for Lennox, the safe is on a time-lock and due to the dodgy watch he's wearing, he's a good hour later than he planned - and the safe doesn't open again until 8am the next morning.
After being held hostage throughout the night, Lennox realises that he knew Del when he was a kid. By preying on the would-be robber's guilty conscience, Del persuades Lennox to reveal that the plan was hatched by Tom and the supermarket manager to get at the £60,000 stored in the safe.
The three accomplices beg Del not to go to the police, and instead, he arranges for Lennox to get a job as security guard at the supermarket after Tom's impending retirement - he also makes sure he wins a £1,000 prize as the millionth customer in the store.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Sunday 14th September 1986
- Time
- 8:35pm
- Channel
- BBC One
- Length
- 30 minutes
Repeats
- Monday 25th January 2021 at 8:20am on Gold
- Monday 25th January 2021 at 2:20pm on Gold
- Monday 25th January 2021 at 7:00pm on Gold
Cast & crew
Regular cast | |
---|---|
David Jason | Del |
Nicholas Lyndhurst | Rodney |
Buster Merryfield | Uncle Albert |
Guest cast | |
---|---|
John Bardon | Tom Clarke (Head of Security) |
Max Harvey | Mr. Peterson (Manager) |
Vas Blackwood | Lennox Gilbey |
Jeanne Mockford | Kiosk staffer |
Catherine Clarke | Checkout girl |
Writing team | |
---|---|
John Sullivan | Writer |
Production team | |
---|---|
Mandie Fletcher | Director |
Ray Butt | Producer |
Video
You Plonker
The Trotters are held hostage when an armed robbery goes wrong.
Featuring: David Jason (Del), Max Harvey (Mr. Peterson), Vas Blackwood (Lennox Gilbey), Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney), Buster Merryfield (Uncle Albert).

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