The Ambassador

The Ambassador is a British television drama series produced by the BBC written by Hugh Costello. The series starred Pauline Collins in the title role as Harriet Smith, the new British ambassador to Ireland and dealt with the personal and professional pressures in Harriet's life, as well as wider political themes. Other notable cast members were Denis Lawson and Peter Egan. Two series were made between 1998 and 1999.

Drama

Seasons

1. Pilot - Innocent Passage

Air Date: 1998-01-04

The new British Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Harriet Smith, arrives in Dublin to discover that the Irish government is accusing the British of sinking one of their trawlers in the Irish Sea. Together with MI6 agent John Stone, Smith uncovers the truth.

2. Refugee

Air Date: 1998-01-11

Ambassador Smith gives the battered British wife of a Saudi diplomat refuge in the embassy when he beats her up and attempts to kidnap their son, even though this jeopardises a lucrative aircraft contract with Saudi Arabia.

3. Nine Tenths of the Law

Air Date: 1998-01-18

When a young British girl is jailed for drug smuggling, it seems a positive start to an Anglo-Irish initiative. Then Smith discovers that the girl works at the same bar as her 19 year old son Nate. Stone investigates whether he is connected to any illegal activity.

4. A Cluster of Betrayals

Air Date: 1998-01-25

The ambassador's assistant is held hostage by a man brandishing a canister of nuclear waste, in protest at the number of children he says are dying from nuclear waste pollution of the Irish Sea by British nuclear facilities.

5. Trade

Air Date: 1998-02-01

A young rent boy found dead in a Dublin hotel bedroom, after having sex with visiting British minister David McNaughton, leads a British government minister to order a cover-up, which is carried out by Stone too thoroughly.

6. Playing God

Air Date: 1998-02-08

MI6 fear that Smith has been targeted for assassination, but she refuses to compromise her official engagements. A former MI6 officer, Sir Robert Beauchamp, is intent on publishing his memoirs before he dies of cancer, facing Smith with more tough decisions.

1. The Road to Nowhere

Air Date: 1999-04-18

Smith finds happiness with her new lover, Cochrane, but a break-in at her official residence forces her to make the hardest choice of her career.

2. Vacant Possession

Air Date: 1999-04-25

Fearing a civil war, Smith enlists the help of her resident MI6 agent John Stone.

4. Cost Price

Air Date: 1999-05-09

Ambassador Smith is torn between love and duty when Cochrane is kidnapped.

5. Unholy Alliance

Air Date: 1999-05-16

When a British family enlists the embassy's help in recovering their son from a Dublin cult, Smith has to confront the charismatic cult leader Cornelius.

6. A Matter of Life and Death

Air Date: 1999-05-23

Smith finds herself at the center of a political storm when a young British girl in an Irish prison asks for her help.

7. Getting Away with Murder

Air Date: 1999-05-30

When Stephen Tyler is accused of murdering his wife, Ambassador Smith tries to help him.

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Rating

6.0/10

Release Date

1998-01-04

Episodes

12 (2 seasons)

Status

Ended