I won't retell the plot as it is already available, so I will just concentrate on the actual production. I saw this episode again, on DVD, last month, for the first time since it's original ITV broadcast.
What a treat. It was like a new episode (only when the show was still any good).
Besides John Nettles and Daniel Casey (an underused actor),the cast is to die for (no pun intended). Kevin McNally, Phylidda Law, Rowena Cooper-a face you know but can never remember the name, Nick Moran-of Lock Stock fame, Ian Thompson-another regular face (and another underused actor in the industry), the delightful Paul Jesson (who recently reappeared as a suspect in 'Vera'), who here plays as a repellent character, which is a sharp contrast to his character in 'A Touch Of Frost' around the same time, Honeysuckle Weeks (get well soon!) who you may recognize from her regular role in 'Foyle's War', and Tricia George, a charming performer, who I grew up watching in the 'Uncle Jack...' CBBC series. Special mention must go to the late and lovely Jerome Willis, much missed. Nice photography of the Chilterns. The home of Hector Bridges in this episode also played the base of a terrorist cell in Ultimate Force. Some nice efficient direction by old-hand Moira Armstrong but the episode does sag slightly and could have done with losing ten minutes or so. Could have done with Jeremy Silbertson at the helm, like other episodes of the early seasons of the show, but that would have been impossible due to overlapping production times.