Simisola
Episode 21 / An Inspector Wexford Special
First transmitted in three parts in 1996
Directed by Jim Goddard 2
A Blue Heaven Production for Meridian Broadcasting
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.
Melanie Akande, the daughter of Kingsmarkham’s new Nigerian doctor, is missing, and the last person to see her is found murdered in a tale that explores prejudice and racism in an English country town.
Credits
- 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
- Swithun 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 3
- Ingrid Pamber
- Alison Fielding
- Percy Hammond
- Charles Simon 4
- Mrs Harris
- Pauline Munro
- Newsreader
- Jane Wyatt
- Susan Riding
- Naomi Buch 5
- Sophie Riding
- Emily Hamilton
- Bruce Snow
- Shaughan Seymour
- Carolyn Snow
- Meg Davies
- Market Trader
- Paul Trussell
- Kimberley
- Kelly Reilly
- Zack Nelson
- Guy Oliver-Watts
- Peter Stanton
- John Middleton
- Cookie Dix
- Julie Peasgood
- Alexander Dix
- Robert Fyfe 6
- Christopher Riding
- Robert Portal
- Mr Mavrikiev
- Robin McCallum
- Sojourner/Simisola
- Loretta Parnell
- Minister Fletcher
- Tim Stern
- Melanie Akande
- Gracy Goldman
- Rosenda Lopez
- Jane Bautista
- Original music composed by
- Brian Bennett
- Casting Director
- Doreen Jones 7
- 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
- Makeup 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 Ludlow
- 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
Soundtrack
Notes
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 put to the test. Because, in a small town like Kingsmarkham, they are faced with a problem they have never encountered before.
—George BakerMy 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. 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!
—Alan PlaterI’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 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.
—Jim GoddardIt 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 work, 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!
—Louie RamsayRuth 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.
—Christopher RavenscroftAvington House, near Winchester, is the setting for Mynford New Hall, the home of Mr and Mrs Khoori.
Anouk Khoori is everything I loathe. She lives an unreal existence and is protected from the real world through her money.
—Jane LapotaireThis was the first time I’d ever played a policeman. I loved it. 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.
—Robin KermodeI played Barry Vine as a well-read, articulate policeman, quite together, who feels that a lot of his time is wasted on paperwork. He is quick-tempered and doesn’t suffer fools. It’s important to him not to end up a plodder. I liked him because he has an edge about him.
—Robin KermodeSimisola was filmed on location in Hampshire between 19 June and 4 August 1995.
Footnotes
Alan Plater 1935-2010: obituary by Michael Coveney, The Guardian. ↩︎
Jim Goddard 1936-2013: obituary by Reg Gadney, The Guardian. ↩︎
Trevor Byfield 1943-2007: obituary by Anthony Hayward, The Guardian. ↩︎
Charles Simon 1909-2002: obituary by Nigel Fountain, The Guardian. ↩︎
Robert Fyfe 1930-2021: obituary by Anthony Haywood, The Guardian. ↩︎
Doreen Jones 1940-2017: obituary by Derek Granger, The Guardian. ↩︎