
Modern-day slavery
Information via The Guardian
Melanie Akande, the daughter of Wexford’s Nigerian doctor goes missing after being last seen at the Job Centre in Stowerton. The body of a young black woman is found and Wexford immediately fears the worst for the Akande family…
This is a much more challenging case for Wexford. He could have sworn he would have reacted in a specific and predictable way, but when it comes to it, he finds that he needs to look at himself quite closely. He finds that his beliefs—and those of the people around him—are really put to the test, because, in a small town like Kingsmarkham, they are faced with a problem that they have never encountered before.
My wife Shirley and I have been fans of Ruth Rendell’s work way before it reached the screen. As a highly literate person specialising in thrillers, she’s been a class act from the beginning. I always felt she would be perfect for television. The story is a complex examination of racism and I thought it was terrific for that reason. And I’m very happy because Ruth Rendell has said that she is delighted with what I have produced. I have that in writing, so it could be used in evidence, should the need arise!
I’d never done a Wexford before and Simisola surprised me. It’s come right down into the street, taking on a much more realistic quality. It’s set in a totally modern context and there’s the challenge of an older guy dealing with modern life from a position of authority. It makes him question the way he wealds his power. It’s no longer finding the squire’s footprint in the snow or a snip of lamb’s wool caught on barbed wire. This is finding your UB40 in the gutter with some chewing gum on it. That aside, it remains a good detective story in the best tradition.
It was our first time working as a married couple and it felt completely natural and normal. The only difference was that we came home together after working - and if we ever went out for a meal, we would tend to discuss Simisola. We see Ruth socially and are good friends. She paid us a compliment, saying that she sees George when she writes about Wexford and implied that she sees me as Dora, but in her early books Ruth describes Dora as dark haired and deep chested, whereas I am the opposite!
Ruth is a wonderful writer. She creates such vivid characters that they leap off the page. You sense a huge vitality and energy. She’s also marvellous on mood and setting an atmosphere, which is always important. This latest story is quite a departure as she’s become a social commentator.
Anouk Khoori is everything I loathe. She lives an unreal existence and is totally protected from the real world through her money.
Ruth Rendell shows what happens in nice quarters. I think she’s produced a good balance, powerful and moving, without getting on a soap box. The effect is just right and it will inform people as it goes on, in a much more subtle way than shouting about issues in a heated debate.
This was the first time I’d ever played a policeman. I loved it. In fact, it was one of the happiest companies I’ve ever worked with. George Baker was so welcoming. On the very first read through, I said there was little in the script about Vine’s character and asked him for some pointers. He said he felt I was spot on with Vine and even though I hadn’t done it before, it just seemed to work. Everyone was very generous and very welcoming, especially as it was such an established series.
DCI Wexford
George Baker
DI Burden
Christopher Ravenscroft
Dora Wexford
Louie Ramsay
Jenny Burden
Diane Keen
Anouk Khoori
Jane Lapotaire
Dr Raymond Akande
George Harris
Laurette Akande
Ellen Thomas
Sylvia Fairfax
Charon Bourke
Neil Fairfax
Philip Bird
Robin Fairfax
Adrian Martin
Ben Fairfax
Tom Donaldson
DS Karen Malahyde
Sasha Mitchell
DS Barry Vine
Robin Kermode
Swithin Riding
Michael Cochrane
Raffy
Idris Elba
Oni Johnson
Marcia Tucker
Gary
Daniel Ilsley
Dean
David Doyle
Patrick Akande
Razaaq Adoti
Mrs Stowlap
Barrie Shore
Leyton
Trevor Byfield
Ingrid Pamber
Alison Fielding
Percy Hammond
Charles Simon
Mrs Harris
Pauline Munro
Newsreader
Jane Wyatt
Susan Riding
Naomi Buch
Sophie Riding
Emily Hamilton
Bruce Snow
Shaughan Seymour
Carolyn Snow
Meg Davies
Paul Trussel
Market Trader
Kimberley
Kelly Reilly
Zack Nelson
Guy Oliver-Watts
Peter Stanton
John Middleton
Cookie Dix
Julie Peasgood
Alexander Dix
Robert Fyfe
Christopher Riding
Robert Portal
Mr Mavrikiev
Robin Lermitte
Sojourner/Simisola
Loretta Parnell
Minister Fletcher
Tim Stern
Melanie Akande
Gracy G. Goldman
Rosenda Lopez
Jane Bautista
Original music composed by
Brian Bennett
Casting Director
Doreen Jones
Production Manager
Peter Hider
1st Assistant Director
Luc Etienne
2nd Assistant Director
Fay Selby
3rd Assistant Director
Leon Coole
Location Manager
Georgina True-May
Continuity
Marissa Cowell
Production Co-ordinator
Dawn Mortimer
Production Secretary
Kim McKInty
Producer's Assistant
Leslie Gourley
Costume Design
Rita Angell
Wardrobe Mistress
Sheryl Brittain
Wardrobe Assistant
Erika Pharoah
Make-up Supervisor
Toni Holmes
Chief Hairdresser
Maureen Freemantle
Production Accountant
Peter Harvey
Assistant Accountant
Gay Huse
Production Buyer
Graham Curtis
Prop Master
Paul Kearney
Standby Props
Kenny Palmer
Dressing Props
Mike Doherty
Mike Swanston
Standby Carpenter
Clive Weaver
Standby Painter
Tony Hand
Gaffer Electrician
John Donoghue
Electricians
Alan Daniels
Roy Robberts
Floor Runner
Johnny Lulow
Office Runner
Belinda Ray
Production Transport
S & S Transport
Unit Publicist
Shelagh Pym
Publicity stills
Tony Nutley
Art Director
Paul Cowell
Assistant Art Director
Victoria Nelson
Sound Recordist
John Paine
Boom Operator
Rosie Straker
Camera Operator
Lewis Foster
Focus Puller
Tom Harding
Clapper Loading
Jon Stephen
Grip
David Logan
Graphic Designer
John Hamon
Dubbing Editor
Paul Guiver
Dubbing Mixer
Dave Fallon
Executive Producer for Meridian
Colin Rogers
Production Designer
Christine Ruscoe
1st Assistant Editor
Jim Lownie
2nd Assistant Editor
Steve Crabb
Film Editor
Christopher Wentzell
Director of Photography
Walter McGill
Executive Producer
Graham Benson
Producer
Neil Zeiger
Directed by
Jim Goddard
A Blue Heaven Production for
Meridian Broadcasting