CHURCHILL'S BODYGUARD
(13 X 46.5 minute episodes)
THE SERIES
I am ex-Detective Inspector Walter Henry Thompson, and was Winston Churchill's bodyguard for a period of nearly 18 years'.
In almost any piece of film you'll see of Britain's great wartime leader, this is the man in the background - anonymous and secret. Until now his critical role in saving the life of Churchill from a series of attacks has been hidden from the wider public.
After the war Walter Thompson's censored book told just part of the story. His full memoirs were suppressed even by Churchill himself - only now can we recount the number of assassination attempts on Churchill's life. Many foiled by Walter.
This series, with unique access to these incredible memoirs, reveals for the first time, the story of Walter's life with Winston. Together they travelled thousands of miles on precarious journeys to meet Stalin and Roosevelt and other world leaders. Together they rode with Lawrence of Arabia.
This is a story of the political upheavals of the 20th Century, Churchill's constant brushes with death and the role played by an ex post office messenger in preventing an early end to his life.
THE NEWLY DISCOVERED MEMOIRS…
...examine in depth the close personal relationship which evolved between Walter Thompson and Churchill throughout the extensive times which they spent together in the UK and travelling the world including the numerous attempts which were made on Churchill's life.
The story is briefly interrupted by Churchill's wilderness years and Walter's retirement, however the action rapidly builds up once again at the outbreak of World War II when Walter is summoned from retirement to protect Churchill from the moment that he is re-appointed to First Lord of the Admiralty.
From this moment on the danger increases by the day, as Hitler has put a price on Churchill's head and many attempts are made to kill him. Walter knows that if necessary, he is to give his life at any given moment in order to save Churchill from murder or assassination.
Walter spent more time with Churchill than with any other human being during the war years and saved his life on many occasions. Eventually both Churchill and Walter survive the war and after the 1945 election, when Churchill is defeated, both of them can be found sitting in front of the fire at Churchill's London home utterly exhausted but happily reminiscing about the adventures and narrow escapes which they have both had in staying alive during exposure to some of the most dangerous theatres of war in World War II.
It is at this point that Churchill confides his long held personal explanation of what his life has been about and why he believes he has been protected by a Supreme Being to deliver the world from the excesses of Hitler and the Nazis.
FOR INTERNATIONAL TV RIGHTS
PLEASE CONTACT:
MARK YOUNG
BBC WORLDWIDE LIMITED
WOODLANDS
80 WOOD LANE
LONDON
W12 0TT
TEL: 020 8433 2261
FAX: 020 8433 3944
FOR INTERNATIONAL DVD RIGHTS
PLEASE CONTACT:
NUGUS/MARTIN PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
23 GOLDEN SQUARE
LONDON
W1F 9JP
TEL: 020 7734 5428
FAX:020 7734 5420
E-MAIL: pn@nugusmartin-1.demon.co.uk
FOR USA AND CANADA DVD CUSTOMERS
PLEASE CONTACT:
CHRISTINE KUPPENS
ACORN MEDIA
801 ROEDER ROAD, SUITE 700
SILVER SPRING, MD 20910
TEL: 301 608 2115 X 121
FAX: 301 608 9312
E-MAIL: ckuppens@acornmedia.com
FOR UK DVD SUPPLIES
PLEASE CONTACT:
ANDY DENNIS
BLACKHORSE ENTERTAINMENT
UPLANDS BUSINESS PARK
BLACKHORSE LANE
LONDON E17 5QL
TEL: 020 8501 9270
FAX: 020 8501 9257
UK CONSUMERS PLEASE CONTACT:
FOR WORLDWIDE BOOK AVAILABILITY
PLEASE CONTACT:
WENDY MCCANCE
HEADLINE BOOK PUBLISHING
388 EUSTON ROAD
LONDON
NW1 3BH
TEL: 00 44 (O) 207 873 6188
FAX: 00 44 (0) 7873 6124
E-MAIL: wendy.mccance@headline.co.uk
(each programme = 46.5 minutes)
Programme 1
WALTER MEETS WINSTON
In the background of almost every piece of footage of Britain's great wartime leader Winston Churchill, is an anonymous figure: his bodyguard, Detective Inspector Walter Thompson of Scotland Yard. This is the story of how these two very different characters met, and how the poor boy from London's East End saved his boss from an IRA assassination attempt.
For video availability click here.
Programme 2
LAWRENCE AND WALTER SAVE THE DAY
Soon after he became Winston Churchill's personal bodyguard, Walter Thompson was given the challenge of keeping his boss alive during a visit to the Middle East. A leading British politician was a natural target for assassins, and on several critical occasions, Winston was rescued by one of the most enigmatic figures of the 20th Century - Lawrence of Arabia.
For video availability click here.
Programme 3
NEARLY KILLED IN NEW YORK
In 1929, Winston Churchill ceased to be Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Detective Sergeant Walter Thompson sadly stopped guarding the man he had come to regard as a friend. However, within two years, Winston's outspoken views had gained him fresh and deadly enemies. Walter was recalled, but the next threat to Winston's life came from a totally unexpected direction.
For video availability click here.
Programme 4
INDIAN NATIONALIST ASSASSIN
Having kept Winston Churchill safe from assassination during his US lecture tour in 1931, Walter Thompson soon left the police force. Out of office and increasingly at odds with his party, it also seemed that Winston's career was at an end. But a new and sinister force, which recognised Winston as its implacable enemy, was rising, and threats to Winston's life brought the two men together again.
For video availability click here.
Programme 5
NAZI SNIPER PLAN
During the 1930s, although he was out of office, Winston Churchill's outspoken opposition to Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime made him a marked man. So much so that when war seemed inevitable, French Intelligence got wind of a German plot to assassinate him. Immediately Winston called his former bodyguard ex-Detective Walter Thompson out of retirement to protect him again.
For video availability click here.
Programme 6
DANGEROUS TRAVELS
As World War II began, Winston Churchill was brought back into the government after ten years in the wilderness. For his bodyguard Detective-Inspector Walter Thompson it was the beginning of the six most active and nerve-wracking years of his career. Within eight months his boss would be Prime Minister and risking his life on hair-raising trips to try to keep Britain's ally France in the war.
For video availability click here.
Programme 7
SURVIVING THE BLITZ
By June 1940, Britain was facing Nazi invasion. Prime Minister Winston Churchill's bodyguard Walter Thompson had at least managed to keep him safe during several dangerous trips to France. But the next year was to bring a host of new perils. For as the bombs rained down on, the one person to whose safety Winston gave no thought was himself, and Walter had to cope as best he could.
For video availability click here.
Programme 8
ATTACK AT THE FLYING BOAT DOCK
The entry of the United States into World War II meant an enormous increase in responsibility for Winston Churchill's bodyguard Walter Thompson. For the next three and a half years the two men were to travel almost 200,000 miles visiting the battle fronts and attending high-level conferences. Very soon, Winston was to come within seconds of assassination by a lone gunman.
For video availability click here.
Programme 9
WINSTON'S DOUBLE
A precarious trip to Moscow to visit Stalin is followed by victory for the 8th Army in North Africa. However, the Germans know that Churchill is travelling and try at least twice to shoot down his plane. His double is not so lucky…
For video availability click here.
Programme 10
SUICIDE ATTACK IN TEHRAN
Hitler's henchmen have devised a plan to kill Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt at the Tehran Conference. Assassins are parachuted in carrying suicide bombs and it is up to Walter and the intelligence services to protect Winston's life from immediate danger.
For video availability click here.
Programme 11
THE KISS OF LIFE?
Winston Churchill returns from Tehran in very poor health. So much so that his doctor expects him to die. Walter's devotion is such that he insists on staying at Winston's side on the crucial night and disaster is averted.
For video availability click here.
Programme 12
THE SEWER BOMB
When Winston visits Athens he is supposed to stay at an hotel where Greek guerrillas have placed 1000 lbs of dynamite in a nearby sewer. They shoot at his plane and even fire on HMS Ajax his temporary home in Piraeus harbour.
For video availability click here.
Programme 13
LOVE HIM TO DEATH
It is VE-Day and Winston and Walter have several journeys to make through the jubilant crowds. Winston wants to walk and at the last minute is pulled on to the roof of his car by Walter who breaks a woman's arm whilst protecting his boss.
For video availability click here.
FOR INTERNATIONAL TV RIGHTS
PLEASE CONTACT:
MARK YOUNG
BBC WORLDWIDE LIMITED
WOODLANDS
80 WOOD LANE
LONDON
W12 0TT
TEL: 020 8433 2261
FAX: 020 8433 3944
FOR INTERNATIONAL DVD RIGHTS
PLEASE CONTACT:
NUGUS/MARTIN PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
23 GOLDEN SQUARE
LONDON
W1F 9JP
TEL: 020 7734 5428
FAX:020 7734 5420
E-MAIL: pn@nugusmartin-1.demon.co.uk
FOR USA AND CANADA DVD CUSTOMERS
PLEASE CONTACT:
CHRISTINE KUPPENS
ACORN MEDIA
801 ROEDER ROAD, SUITE 700
SILVER SPRING, MD 20910
TEL: 301 608 2115 X 121
FAX: 301 608 9312
E-MAIL: ckuppens@acornmedia.com
FOR UK DVD SUPPLIES
PLEASE CONTACT:
ANDY DENNIS
BLACKHORSE ENTERTAINMENT
UPLANDS BUSINESS PARK
BLACKHORSE LANE
LONDON E17 5QL
TEL: 020 8501 9270
FAX: 020 8501 9257
UK CONSUMERS PLEASE CONTACT:
FOR WORLDWIDE BOOK AVAILABILITY
PLEASE CONTACT:
WENDY MCCANCE
HEADLINE BOOK PUBLISHING
388 EUSTON ROAD
LONDON
NW1 3BH
TEL: 00 44 (O) 207 873 6188
FAX: 00 44 (0) 7873 6124
E-MAIL: wendy.mccance@headline.co.uk
