Who Dares Wins

A quiet Whitehall Place, London SW1, facing southwest.

Still quiet but a little greener. SJ

A demonstration calling for nuclear disarmament takes over the street. Whitehall Place SW1.

The south side of the street. SJ

"1,2,3,4 We don't want a nuclear war". The marchers proceed along St. James's Street.

This former bomb site was known as Economist Plaza when it opened in 1964. After the Economist magazine moved out, it became known as Smithson Plaza after the architect. Also seen in Blow-up, Sebastian, Endless Night & I'll Never Forget What's 'isname. SJ

"5,6,7,8, we don't want to radiate". St. James's Street with St. James's Palace in the background.

Looking south-east. SJ

As the demo passes, a sniper with a crossbow appears from an upstairs window of the Royal Horseguards Hotel. Whitehall Court SW1.

The very window just south of the main entrance. SJ

The crowd marches on and a demonstrator is shot by the sniper. Whitehall Place, facing west.

Slightly greener. SJ

Pickley (Michael Forrest) holds a meeting with the top brass to discuss terrorist group, the People's Lobby, who are behind the shooting. St. James's Square is seen through the window.

Taken from outside the RAC club, but the window frame matches those of the club. SJ

As the SAS are brought in to help, we see Captain Peter Skellen (Lewis Collins) on the training ground. The DVD commentary advises that for these scenes the crew and actors were given limited access to Stirling Lines, the SAS headquarters in Credenhill, Herefordshire.

The squad moves to Wales. The Cwm Dyli hydro-electric power station is seen from a viewpoint on A498 in Snowdonia, Caernarfonshire, now Eryri National Park in Gwynedd. Its pipeline featured in the James Bond film 'The World Is Not Enough'.

Didn't see any SAS action whilst I was here. NW

Captain Skellen surveys the scene at Cwm Dyli. In the course of the training he is found guilty of misconduct and resigns his commission. In the distance is Llyn Gwynant, which also appears in 'Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life' (2003) and 'Brian and Charles' (2022).

Looking down the valley towards Llyn Gwynant. NW

At a market stall, Skellen makes contact with an SAS insider Ryan (Norman Rodway). Portobello Road facing north from around number 129 on a snowy day.

The comparison shot showing the busy market today comes from Neil Kenny.

Skellen drives home. Kynance Mews SW7, also seen in 'Crooks Anonymous', 'Rough Cut', The Black Windmill', 'The Big Sleep', 'Twinky' and 'Scandalous'.

This is the longer western branch of the mews looking towards the arch on Launceston Place. SJ

He enters 25 Kynance Mews.

A different door but unusually for a mews unchanged. SJ

A Frenchman named Malek (Aharon Ipalé) arrives at the Banque Generale in London to deposit a large amount of money to fund the terrorists.. The Waterloo Place entrance to the Athenaeum Club, SW1. The building is also seen in 'The Holcroft Covenant', 'Defence of the Realm' and 'That Riviera Touch'.

Same bus in the background but a radically different vehicle in the foreground. SJ

Skellen visits a rock concert and picks up Frankie (Judy Davis). They drive to her apartment. St. Katharine Docks, E1.

Just about here.

Next morning they drive back to the club. Upper Street, Islington, turning into Compton Terrace N1.

Looking north not too far from Highbury & Islington tube. SJ

The venue for the concert. Union Chapel, Compton Terrace N1.

A sunny afternoon lights up the chapel. SJ

Skellen and Frankie park opposite the venue Compton Terrace.

The hedge has grown up considerably to hide the shed. SJ

They walk across the road. Compton Terrace.

Some scaffolding mars the match on the left. SJ

After agreeing to join the People's Lobby, Skellen heads off to the Thames. Westminster Pier SW1.

A similarly grey day but in summer. SJ

Skellen walks around. Victoria Embankment SW1.

Suddenly summer returns albeit briefly. SJ

Kellen emerges from Westminster Underground Station subway.

This is at the base of Boudicca's statue. SJ

A Thames ferry is passing. Victoria Embankment.

A clearer view from a higher viewpoint. SJ

Skellen jumps aboard for a meeting with Ryan. The Shell Building looms in the background.

Many additions to the background in the last 45 years. SJ

Terrorist Helga (Ingrid Pitt) watches the meeting through binoculars. Victoria Embankment.

Looking north. SJ

In Holland Park W8, Skellen's wife Jenny (Rosalind Lloyd) holds their baby.

William Pye's Sibirica in the Iris Garden replaced the previous structure in 1999. SJ

Kellen turns up on his motor bike. Holland Park.

The east side from where the colonnade through the white entrance leads to The Orangery. SJ

The couple embrace by Holland Park Orangery.

From the portico looking north-west. SJ

Skellen gets on a bus in Trafalgar Square.

The south-west corner. SJ

He is followed by Mac (Mark Ryan) from the People's Lobby. Cockspur Street SW1.

And SW1 is right on the border with WC2, though this sign is attached to the railings of Canada House which is in SW1. SJ

Mac catches up with Skellen's bus. Trafalgar Square.

The traffic now "flows" in a reverse direction. SJ

Proceeding into Regent Street, Skellen jumps off the bus and grabs a taxi.

A clearer view of The Duke of York column on Waterloo Place from Regent Street St. James's. SJ

The terrorists are based in a barn. Unconfirmed location. There's a suggestion on the web that this is Halls Farm, Waltham St. Lawrence, Berkshire, which was used in an episode of The Professionals.

A coach carrying a US army band passes a thatched cottage on Jubilee Road, Littlewick Green, Berkshire.

I found this beautiful cottage on sale, a bargain at £1.5m.

The coach carries on through the countryside and is hijacked by the terrorists, Walnut Tree Cottage, Coronation Road, Littlewick Green.

Walnut Tree Cottage today has a little more greenery.

After stealing the soldiers' ids, the terrorists make their way to the target by coach. Unidentified location.

Skellen's wife and child are taken hostage at home. Steps down from Victoria Road to Kynance Mews.

On the W8/SW7 border. SJ

The coach heads towards the target. Unidentified location.

The terrorists reach the gates. These are the gatest at the southern entrance to Pinewood Studios, which are seen in numerous productions.

A wider view of the gates in daylight by Antony Blair.

The terrorist raid and spectacular SAS assault take place, filmed at Heatherden Hall, Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire

A shot from the archives of RJ. (SJ)