Myland Castle has stood for more than 900 years. Now someone—or something—is maliciously pushing cyclists as they ride along the path close to the castle walls. When one of the victims dies, Wexford employs Sgt Martin as bait to catch the killer. Meanwhile, in nearby Castle Road, ninety–two–year-old Ivy Wrangton dies of apparently natural causes. However, district nurse Judith Radcliffe has her doubts. She tells Wexford that she has an instinct for death and that—despite her age—there was ‘no sign of death in Ivy Wrangton’…

  • Portchester Castle near Portsmouth was used as the setting for Myland Castle.
  • An Unwanted Woman is adapted from two Ruth Rendell short stories: An Unwanted Woman and Old Wives’ Tales.

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Book jacket image
  • Published by Hutchinson in 1979
  • The title is taken from book one of Paradise Lost: And out of good still to find means of evil.
  • And when the wedding was over, we’d have it put in the newspaper list of marriages… is a quote from Gabriel Oak’s marriage proposal to Bathsheba in Far from the Madding Crowd.
Book jacket image
  • Published by Hutchinson in 1991

Cast + Credits

  • DCI Wexford

    George Baker

  • DI Burden

    Christopher Ravenscroft

  • Dora Wexford

    Louie Ramsay

  • Jenny Burden

    Diane Keen

  • Sophie

    Claire Woodgate

  • Ann Waterton

    Eileen Page

  • Hilary Stacey

    Susan Wooldridge

  • Ivy Wrangton

    Madeleine Christie

  • Elsie Parish

    Marjorie Summerville

  • Car Salesman

    Terry John

  • Desmond Stacey

    John Conroy

  • Matron

    Tilly Tremayne

  • Doreen Betts

    Maggie Holland

  • Harry Betts

    Peter Copley

  • Sister

    Barrie Shore

  • Peter Renton

    Ian Gelder

  • Roy Smith

    Roger Griffiths

  • DS Martin

    Ken Kitson

  • Dr Crocker

    John Burgess

  • Dr Moss

    Vincent Regan

  • Coroner

    Basil Moss

  • Original music composed by

    Brian Bennett

  • Casting Director

    Doreen Jones

  • Stunt Arranger

    Terry Forrestal

  • Production Manager

    Graeme MacArthur

  • 1st Assistant Director

    Phil Hartley

  • Production Secretary

    Susan Irish

  • Producer's Secretary

    Catherine Bolwell

  • Graphic Designer

    Tim Bernard

  • Costume Designer

    Jan Collins

  • Make Up Supervisor

    Deborah McKinlay

  • Production Buyer

    Graham Curtis

  • Designer

    Christine Ruscoe

  • Camera Grip

    Alan Imeson

  • Sound Recordist

    Maurice Hillier

  • Camera Operator

    Julian Barber

  • Dubbing Editor

    Peter Dansie

  • Dubbing Mixer

    Dave Fallon

  • Film Editor

    Nigel Bate

  • Lighting Cameraman

    Graham Geddes

  • Executive Producer

    Graham Benson

  • Producer

    Neil Zeiger

  • Directed by

    Jenny Wilkes

  • A Blue Heaven Production for

    TVS