Lytton's Diary: The Complete Collection

London gossip columnist Neville Lytton (Peter Bowles, The Irish R.M., To the Manor Born) exudes a sophisticated charm that masks a tenacious commitment to his job. Whether consorting with tycoons or investigating skinheads, this suave Fleet Street reporter strives to expose the high and mighty, corrupt and crooked-and keep his editor happy. All 12 episodes, as seen on PBS Masterpiece. 10 hours on 3 DVDs.

Disc 1
Episode 1: Rabid Dingo-Shock, Horror
Despite warnings to steer clear of the subject, Lytton tries to dig up dirt on an Australian tycoon interested in buying the Daily Post. With a rival coworker hot on his heels, Lytton's luck may be running out.

Episode 2: Daddy's Girls
Lytton runs a seemingly straightforward story about a banker's teenage daughter and her relationship with a record producer. His interest is piqued, however, when the father overreacts to the piece. Is the man just being protective, or is there more at play?

Episode 3: The Lady in the Mask
Stung by criticism that his column is getting "tepid," Lytton looks to spice things up a bit. Then an unmarked envelope arrives with a photo of a nude woman wearing a mask. When Lytton gets an accompanying anonymous phone call, he decides to investigate.

Disc 2
Episode 4: Tricks of the Trade
Lytton learns about a crooked politician working a shady export deal with moneyed interests from the Middle East. In covering the story, he must tread a careful path-saying enough to draw the M.P. out, but not enough to get the Daily News sued.

Episode 5: The Silly Season
With material in short supply during the summer "silly season," Lytton reluctantly considers a forthcoming kiss-and-tell book by a Swedish actress. After some thugs try to intimidate the starlet from publishing, Lytton finds a story he can believe in.

Episode 6: Comeuppance
When a group of right-wing skinheads runs amok in a small village, Lytton suspects it's more than a case of simple hooliganism. But his curiosity puts him in harm's way-and his professional pride isn't the only thing that could take a beating.

Disc 3
Episode 1: The Ends and the Means
When an old friend's husband commits suicide, Lytton wonders why the successful government official would have killed himself. He focuses on an elegant mystery woman who attends the funeral, but the widow asks him to call off his inquiry.

Episode 2: Rules of Engagement
Lytton puts a new reporter on the trail of a tennis star leaving his wife and kids, while Lytton himself investigates an Old Bailey judge with close ties to a known criminal. However, neither situation is quite what it seems.

Episode 3: The Ancien Regime
The owner of the Daily News makes Lytton an offer he can't refuse-or can he? While Lytton deliberates, he continues to pursue his hottest story: the link between a notorious French actress and a murderous Central American dictator.

Disc 4
Episode 4: The Miracle Man
It seems like everyone's trying to tell Lytton what to do. His publisher has all kinds of fixes for his first draft, and his young new editor wants him to cover more pop stars in his column. Lytton prefers to focus on a faith-healer evangelist instead.

Episode 5: National Hero
The new editor hires a trendy young reporter for the diary, but Lytton's own interests are stuck firmly in the past-on a revered war hero with skeletons in his closet. Meanwhile, a professional rivalry gets personal with Lytton's competitor at the Post.

Episode 6: What a Wonderful World
An international beauty competition offers Lytton little in the way of a story, until sabotage, corruption, and perhaps even murder enter the fray. Back at the Daily News offices, the owner throws his weight around, determined to win a battle with the printers' union.

Directed by Peter Sasdy, Herbert Wise, Derek Bennett, Michael Ferguson
Written by Ray Connolly, Peter Bowles, Philip Broadley
Produced by Chris Burt, Derek Bennett
Executive Produced by Lloyd Shirley
Original Music by
Cinematography by
Film Editing by Colin Bocking
Costume Design by Caroline Rybolt