The Nearly Man

Television play, later developed into a series, about a Labour member of parliament who never quite makes it to the top.

Christopher Collinson entered Parliament in 1958 as a talented, ambitious young man. Now, frustrated and cynical after seventeen years on the back benches, he still wants - and even expects - power; a personal tragedy reveals that the opportunity has not entirely disappeared.

Collinson seeks out the political limelight, but Alice finds his renewed political ambition difficult to come to terms with. Meanwhile, in the constituency there is a growing feeling that a clash is inevitable.

As Collinson concentrates on the intensifying Common Market campaign, he is almost taken unawares by events in his constituency. Then, at a routine political meeting, he meets a young university teacher. Her name is Millie Dutton...

While Collinson awaits the outcome of a cabinet reshuffle that will decide his political future, Alice, living apart from him in the Shropshire countryside, is expecting a visit from her friend, novelist Brian Griffin.

It's more than two months since Chris and Alice Collinson have seen each other ; a long standing engagement now brings them into contact. It is not the only confrontation in store for Collinson, as the antagonism between himself and Ron Hibbert takes a new and unexpected turn.