In the Public Interest 

A shallow grave is uncovered and three bodies are discovered. Could this be a ritual killing?

Director:

Paul Harrison

Writers:

R.D. Wingfield (characters creator), Thomas Ellice (screenplay)

Stars:

David Jason, Bruce Alexander, John Lyons

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Jason	...	Insp Jack Frost
Bruce Alexander	...	Supt Mullett
John Lyons	...	DS Toolan
Adrian Lukis	...	James Callum
Tam Williams	...	Michael / Michele
Mel Martin	...	Deputy Editor
Sarah Matravers	...	Rosemary Morrow
Paul Shane	...	Diesel Bob
Lauren Ward	...	Miriam Walker
Julia Dalkin	...	DC Bennett
Lucy Jane Bowen	...	WPC Collins
Arthur White	...	Ernie Trigg
Julia St John	...	Amanda Chase
David McKail	...	Dr Mckenzie
James McKenna	...	Sgt Brady

Storyline

The naked bodies of three young men are found, arranged in a triangle, in a grave at an old burial site and an American anthropologist insists to Frost that these are ritual killings. However the fact that she has a book to promote and reports of unrest among local Eastern European immigrant workers suggest that the murders are not mystical at all. Ever the maverick, Frost enjoys crossing swords with James Callum, an unpleasant local business man who is going to tear down the local youth club to make way for new offices. When Callum's fitness instructress mistress, Rosemary, is found dead on her houseboat, and evidence also suggests that another of Callum's girlfriends died in suspicious circumstances some years earlier Frost cannot wait to pounce. First, however, he must get past Callum's adoring personal assistant, Michael. Perhaps a spot of breaking and entering would help Frost find the clues he is after.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only story from the series not to have had a repeat broadcast on British Television. Until 24th August 2020.

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Goofs

In the police room there is a whiteboard with a list of town names. Devizes is misspelled as Devises.

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Quotes

[first lines]
DS Toolan: [on mobile] OK, panic over. He's here.
Officer - offscreen: Morning, Sir.
Insp Jack Frost: Good morning.
DS Toolan: Morning, Jack.
Insp Jack Frost: Morning, George. What've we got?
DS Toolan: Mass grave.
Insp Jack Frost: How many?
DS Toolan: Three. So far, anyway.
Insp Jack Frost: Three! It's hardly a *mass* grave then, is it?
[...]

User Reviews

Two Very Interesting Cases

There are two incidents. The first involves a discovery of three bodies in a shallow grave. They are wrapped in shrouds and buried in a triangular configuration. The investigation leads to an investigation of possible Satanic rites. An anthropologist gets involved and focuses her attention on Mullett. The second involves a high level real estate developer and his partner, a beautiful woman with an incredibly harsh edge. The man is attracted to women and it seems that bad things happen to them once the partner discovers them. One beautiful young woman who works at a health club is bludgeoned and her houseboat burned. Each case has an interesting conclusion. Frost gets in so deep that he begins to be the victim of the person he is attempting to convict. It's a shame, but there is only one more episode left in this series.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 2008 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Canal Towpath, Kirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

ITV Productions, Excelsior

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Color:

Color