| A Touch of Frost | |
|---|---|
Series title card |
|
| Genre | Police procedural |
| Created by | based on the characters created by R.D. Wingfield |
| Starring | David Jason Bruce Alexander John Lyons |
| Theme music composer | Barbara Thompson Jon Hiseman |
| Composer(s) | Barbara Thompson Jon Hiseman (1992–97) Ray Russell (1999–10) |
| No. of series | 15 |
| No. of episodes | 42 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Yorkshire Television |
| Running time | 34 x 100 Mins 6 x 75 Mins 2 x 120 Mins |
| Production company(s) | ITV Studios |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ITV (ITV1/STV/UTV) |
| Picture format | 4:3 (1992–2000) 16:9 (2001–10) |
| Original run | 30 October 1992 – 5 April 2010 |
A Touch of Frost is a television detective series produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV from 1992 until 2010, initially based on the Frost novels by R.D. Wingfield.
It stars David Jason as Detective Inspector William Edward "Jack" Frost, known almost universally as Jack, an experienced and dedicated detective who frequently clashes with his superiors. In his cases, Frost is assisted by a variety of different detective sergeants, with each bringing a different slant to the particular case. Comic relief is provided by Frost's interactions with the bureaucratically-minded Superintendent Norman Mullett, played by Bruce Alexander.
The series is set in the fictional South-Midlands town of Denton, and is marked by a gritty tone. The role of Frost was notable in changing the public perception of David Jason from a predominantly comic actor to a dramatic actor.
Contents |
It is believed that Denton is in Oxfordshire, with many references to Reading, Oxford, and in particular, Swindon, especially in the earlier episodes, as the M4 and A417 are often seen, and the map of Swindon was seen in the control room, although a map of Reading was used occasionally. The programme is produced by ITV in Leeds, and most of the outdoor locations are shot in West Yorkshire. Several scenes are filmed in and around the city and district of Wakefield and neighbouring small towns of Pontefract and Castleford, West Yorkshire.[1]
| Rank | Character | Series | Portrayed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.I. | William Edward "Jack" Frost, GC | 1–15 | David Jason |
| Superintendent | Norman Mullet | 1–15 | Bruce Alexander |
| Assistant Chief Constable | Julianna Cremond | 6 | Melanie Thaw |
| D.S. | George Toolan | 1–15 | John Lyons |
| D.S. | Maureen Lawson | 2, 3, 11 | Sally Dexter |
| D.S. | Annie Marsh | 14 | Cherie Lunghi |
| D.S. | Sandy Gilmore | 1 | Tony Haygarth |
| D.S. | Hazel Wallace | 1–3, 6, 10 | Caroline Harker |
| D.S. | Clive Barnard | 1, 3, 4-5 | Matt Bardock |
| D.S. | Frank Nash | 4 | Neil Stuke |
| D.S. | Rab Prentice | 4 | Russell Hunter |
| D.S. | Liz Maud | 5 | Susannah Doyle |
| D.S. | John Sharpe | 6, 12 | Philip Jackson |
| D.S. | Terry Reid, MM | 8, 10 | Robert Glenister |
| D.S. | Bill Dorridge | 6–7 | Paul Jesson |
| Sergeant | Wells | 1–5 | Paul Moriarty |
| Sergeant | Johnson | 1–4 | Stuart Barren |
| Sergeant | Hanlon | 1-3 | Bill Roarke |
| Sergeant | Brady | 4–15 | James McKenna |
| D.C.I. | Jim Allen | 1-2 | Neil Phillips |
| D.C.I. | Charlie Hawkes | 3 | Matthew Marsh |
| D.C.I. | Jim Peters | 4-5 | Nigel Harrison |
| P.C. | Ernie Trigg | 2–15 | Arthur White |
| P.C. | Claire Toms | 4 | Colette Brown |
| P.C. | Lindsey Hunter | 4 | Katrina Levon |
| P.C. | Susan Kavanagh | 7 | Georgia MacKenzie |
| D.C. | Webster | 1 | George Anton |
| D.C. | Mark Howard | 1–4 | Jon Sotherton |
| D.C. | Carl Tanner | 2 | Lennie James |
| D.C. | Costello | 2 | Neil Dudgeon |
| D.C. | Ronnie Lonnegan | 9 | Michelle Joseph |
| D.C. | Jasper Tranter | 11 | Nicholas Burns |
| D.C. | Robert Presley | 13 | Blake Ritson |
| R.S.P.C.A. Inspector | Christine Moorhead | 15 | Phyllis Logan |
| Police Sniffer Dog | Kaiser "Kai" | 6 | N/A |
Unlike most TV detectives, Frost does not have a single regular sidekick, and indeed some of his sidekicks are seen in only one or two episodes. There are, however, a number of regular supporting characters who are frequently seen and often promoted to a "sidekick" role:
Aside from the "sidekicks", there are other regular characters who appear throughout the show and contribute to the advancement of the plot in various ways. These include police characters and civilians:
The saxophone solo heard during the show's theme music was performed by Barbara Thompson.[2]
The series is based on the novels of R.D. Wingfield:
At a press conference in London on 15 September 2008, David Jason announced that he will quit the role of DI Jack Frost.[3] Jason's main reason for quitting the role was that he is now the oldest detective on television and he felt that it was 'natural' to retire as Frost. Sir David said: "You wouldn't want me to play Frost in a wheelchair, would you?"
"Frost is getting a little long in the tooth. I still enjoy doing it and it's a great part but I just think he's got to retire. It'll be a sad day."
The last series was broadcast in the UK on Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Easter Monday, 2010.
| Episode | Title | First broadcast | Main sidekick | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 1 | |||||
| 1 | "Care and Protection" | 30 October 1992 | DC Clive Barnard | As D.I. Frost and sidekick D.C. Clive Barnard search for a missing girl they find themselves uncovering a crime dating back 30 years. Frost is also coming to terms with the trauma of his wife's death. | |
| 2 | "Not with Kindness" | 6 November 1992 | DS Sandy Gilmore (Tony Haygarth) | Frost's sister-in-law, Marion, has come over from the United States for her sister's funeral, but her staying at Frost's house leads to friction. Frost is assigned another assistant, Det Sgt Gilmore. As DCI Allen is still on medical leave, Denton's incoming cases fall to Frost. These are a missing teenage girl, Paula Bartlett, and the case of a woman who has been receiving threatening phone calls and suffering malicious pranks. | |
| 3 | "Conclusions" | 13 November 1992 | DC Webster (George Anton) | Frost, now with new sidekick, D.C. Webster, a Scotsman who's struggling to fit in at Denton Police Station are on the case as a pensioner is put in hospital by a hit and run driver. Evidence left at the scene leads them to the arrogant son of a Member of Parliament. A robbery has also taken place at the local casino. | |
| Series 2 | |||||
| 1 | "A Minority of One" | 9 January 1994 | DC Carl Tanner (Lennie James) | Carl Tanner, a new West Indian Detective Constable, is assigned to help Frost investigate a series of burglaries, and, racism issues. Billy Hartman guest starred in this episode, before he joined Emmerdale. | |
| 2 | "Widows and Orphans" | 16 January 1994 | DS Maureen Lawson (Sally Dexter) | Investigating a series of break-ins and attacks at the homes of elderly people, Frost is helped by female detective, D.S. Lawson. | |
| 3 | "Nothing to Hide" | 23 January 1994 | DC Costello (Neil Dudgeon) | Frost discovers that the apparently accidental death of a drug addict was actually murder. | |
| 4 | "Stranger in the House" | 30 January 1994 | WPC Hazel Wallace | During a serial rape investigation, Frost enlists the aid of W.P.C. Wallace as a decoy, exposing her to serious danger. | |
| Series 3 | |||||
| 1 | "Appropriate Adults" | 8 January 1995 | DS George Toolan (John Lyons) | An 8-year-old girl goes missing. The last person to have seen her is Billy Conrad, a gentle young man with Down's syndrome, but he seems to be hiding something. | |
| 2 | "Quarry" | 15 January 1995 | DC Clive Barnard | Two people from an anti-hunting group are murdered. Investigations lead Frost to the local squire. | |
| 3 | "Dead Male One" | 22 January 1995 | DS George Toolan | Frost moves in with Shirley. Frost's Saturday is disrupted by the discovery of a body floating in the river. It turns out that he is not who he seems... | |
| 4 | "No Refuge" | 29 January 1995 | DS Maureen Lawson | During a robbery at a local family-run glassworks, an employee is shot dead. The shooting is witnessed by the owner, who is then threatened and goes into hiding. | |
| Series 4 | |||||
| 1 | "Paying the Price" | 7 January 1996 | WPC Claire Toms (Colette Brown) | A mysterious kidnapper on a motorcycle tests Frost to the limit. It's a tough case to crack, and for the abducted woman, time is running out. | |
| 2 | "Unknown Soldiers" | 14 January 1996 | DS George Toolan
Captain Carlisle (Ralph Brown) |
Frost is held at gunpoint, a soldier is shot dead, and a security van is robbed. Frost tries to find any links between them. | |
| 3 | "The Things We Do For Love" | 21 January 1996 | DS Frank Nash (Neil Stuke) | A young woman is found viciously stabbed to death. Frost consults the victim's personal organiser, from which a trail leads him to a religious community. | |
| 4 | "Fun Times for Swingers" | 28 January 1996 | DS Rab Prentice (Russell Hunter) | Frost investigates when a woman commits suicide naked in public. Meanwhile Supt. Mullet orders Frost to investigate a series of break-ins at the local cricket pavilion. | |
| 5 | "Deep Waters" | 4 February 1996 | WPC Lindsey Hunter (Katrina Levon), DS Clive Barnard | At Denton University, first-year psychology student and keen swimmer, Helen Tudor, is attacked. Frost discovers a link with another girl two years ago. | |
| Series 5 | |||||
| 1 | "Penny for the Guy" | 9 February 1997 | DS Liz Maud (Susannah Doyle) | A supermarket chain is held to ransom by a kidnapper threatening the life of a young boy. | |
| 2 | "House Calls" | 16 February 1997 | DS Liz Maud | Frost investigates a series of break-ins where the intruder gives the sleeping children injections. A man returns home and finds his children dead and his wife missing. | |
| 3 | "True Confessions" | 23 February 1997 | DS George Toolan | A man's church confession provides a clue in a murder investigation, but before Frost can make an arrest, he's suspended over the outcome of a previous case. | |
| 4 | "Love Me Tender" (AKA "No Other Love") |
2 March 1997 | DS Clive Barnard | Frost investigates two cases. The first is the murder of a cantankerous old man by his wife. In the second, a man is killed and his son and daughter go missing. | |
| Series 6 | |||||
| 1 | "Appendix Man" | 7 March 1999 | DS Hazel Wallace | Mullet pretends that Frost is on "extended compassionate leave", and Frost returns to his repaired old home and also to work. | |
| 2 | "One Man's Meat" | 14 March 1999 | DS George Toolan & Kaiser (a dog) | Frost has to investigate two cases simultaneously: a homeless teenage girl, Jane Owens, found beaten up and drowned in Denton's river; and that of an environmental health officer, Warren Barber, who went missing. | |
| 3 | "Private Lives" | 21 March 1999 | DS Sharpe (Philip Jackson) | A woman becomes the victim of a hit-and-run car accident. | |
| 4 | "Keys To The Car" | 28 March 1999 | DS Bill Dorridge (Paul Jesson) | Supt. Mullett calls upon Frost to investigate the theft of his friend's car. | |
| Series 7 / 1999 Christmas Special | |||||
| Part 1 | "Line of Fire (1)" | 25 December 1999 | DS Bill Dorridge & PC Susan Kavanagh (Georgia MacKenzie) | The first two-part story. A detective is killed in strange circumstances and a mysterious death takes place at a power station when a worker falls to his death, and Frost is taken hostage during an armed robbery at a bank. Shirley makes a return visit. | |
| Part 2 | "Line of Fire (2)" | 1 January 2000 | DS Bill Dorridge & PC Susan Kavanagh | ||
| Series 8 / 2001 New Year Special | |||||
| Part 1 | "Benefit of the Doubt (1)" | 14 January 2001 | DS Terry Reid (Robert Glenister) | Frost is put with alcoholic DS Reid, as they try to find out the circumstances behind a woman's death on a train track. | |
| Part 2 | "Benefit of the Doubt (2)" | 15 January 2001 | DS George Toolan | Reid spends most of this episode in a hospital bed. Guest starring David Birkin | |
| Series 9 / 2002 New Year Special | |||||
| Part 1 | "Mistaken Identity (1)" | 27 January 2002 | DC Ronnie Lonnegan (Michelle Joseph) | A body with no identification is found in a local reservoir, and a couple fall victim to a brutal killer in their own home. First appearance of Pam Hartley (Susan Penhaligon) | |
| Part 2 | "Mistaken Identity (2)" | 28 January 2002 | DC Ronnie Lonnegan | Guest starring Kate Maberly | |
| Series 10 | |||||
| 1 | "Hidden Truth" | 19 January 2003 | DS Terry Reid | A gunman goes after a key witness. Frost loses his winning lottery ticket | |
| 2 | "Close Encounters" | 3 March 2003 | DS George Toolan and DS Wallace | Wallace has had a baby since her last appearance. Guest starring Jim Sturgess |
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| 3 | "Held In Trust" | 14 September 2003 | DS Terry Reid | Frost gets promoted, then suspended at the conclusion of the episode. | |
| Series 11 | |||||
| 1 | "Another Life" | 26 October 2003 | DS Maureen Lawson | Guest starring Amanda Root. Frost is allowed to return to duty as a DI. A man is found floating in the river after being neatly knifed in the heart and another man is found butchered into pieces. | |
| 2 | "Dancing in the Dark" | 22 February 2004 | DC Jasper Tranter | Smuggling of young women leads to murder. | |
| Series 12 / 2005 special | |||||
| 1 | "Near Death Experience" | 25 September 2005 | DS Sharpe | A mother and daughter are savagely attacked by knife in their home. | |
| Series 13 / 2006 | |||||
| 1 | "Endangered Species" | 5 November 2006 (ITV1 9pm UTC) | DC Robert Presley (Blake Ritson) | Frost gets a phone call from man saying he is about to be murdered and stumbles onto a crocodile's cafe and snake den. | |
| Series 14 / 2008 | |||||
| 1 | "Mind Games" | 12 October 2008 | DS George Toolan | Guest Starring Keith Barron. | |
| 2 | "Dead End" | 19 October 2008 | DS George Toolan | A bus driver discovered by victim's family to be released after his conviction was overturned on appeal is abducted and possibly murdered. Guest starring Cherie Lunghi as DS Annie Marsh.[4] | |
| 3 | "In The Public Interest"[5] | 26 October 2008 | DS George Toolan | Guest starring Mel Martin, Tam Williams, Julia St. John, Paul Shane and Adrian Lukis. | |
| Series 15 / 2010 - Easter Sunday & Monday | |||||
| Part 1 | "If Dogs Run Free (1)" | 4 April 2010 | DS George Toolan
RSPCA Inspector Christine Moorhead |
The first in the final two-part episode in the series sees Frost attempting to crack an illegal dog-fighting ring, only to discover that its manager, a wealthy Denton businessman, has links to a drug-smuggling operation. Frost also begins to form a relationship with RSPCA Inspector Christine Moorhead, and attempts to finally get over the death of his wife. | |
| Part 2 | "If Dogs Run Free (2)" | 5 April 2010 | DS George Toolan
RSPCA Inspector Christine Moorhead |
Frost considers retiring from the Police force and plans to get married, ending the series, however DS George Toolan dies of heart failure following a collision outside the church where the wedding is about to take place. It is noteworthy that three alternate endings were filmed, where Frost, Toolan or Mullet die of heart failure in hospital. David Jason chose the 'happier' ending and weds his new love Christine Moorhead. | |
MPI Home Video has released Series 1-14 on DVD in the United States and Canada, with the final series to be released 30 November 2010.
| DVD Name | Ep # | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 3 | 30 March 2004 |
| Season 2 | 4 | 25 May 2004 |
| Season 3 | 4 | 28 July 2004 |
| Season 4 | 5 | 23 November 2004 |
| Season 5 | 4 | 29 March 2005 |
| Season 6 | 4 | 28 June 2005 |
| Seasons 7 & 8 | 4 | 27 September 2005 |
| Seasons 9 & 10 | 5 | 25 April 2006 |
| Seasons 11 & 12 | 3 | 31 October 2006 |
| Seasons 13 | 1 | 29 April 2008 |
| Seasons 14 | 1 | 27 October 2008 |
| Seasons 15 | 2 | 30 November 2010 |
| DVD Name | Release date | Released by |
|---|---|---|
| Series 1 to 5 | 18 October 2004 | Playback UK |
| Series 6 to 15 | 16 August 2010 | ITV Home Entertainment |
Shock Entertainment has released all 15 series on DVD in Australia.
| DVD Name | Release date |
|---|---|
| Series 1 | 4 August 2008 |
| Series 2 | 3 November 2008 |
| Series 3 | 3 November 2008 |
| Series 4 | 2 February 2009 |
| Series 5 | 2 February 2009 |
| Series 6 | 1 May 2009 |
| Series 7 & 8 | 1 May 2009 |
| Series 9 & 10 | 26 June 2009 |
| Series 11 & 12 (includes Series 13) | 31 July 2009 |
| Series 14 | 8 June 2010[6] |
| Series 15 | 8 December 2010 |
| Series 1-5 | 27 November 2009[7] |
| Country / Region | Alternative title/Translation | TV network(s) | Series premiere | Weekly schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Seven Network, UKTV and 7Two | Wednesday, 8:30pm/Saturday, 08:30pm | ||
| Belgium | VRT | Saturday, 8:40 pm | ||
| Canada | Knowledge, SCN, TVOntario | |||
| India | Karamchand | DD 1 | ||
| Croatia | Frostov pristup ("Frost's approach") | HRT | ||
| Denmark | En sag for Frost ("A Case for Frost") | DR1, TV 2 Charlie | Monday, 10 pm | |
| Finland | Komisario Frost ("Inspector Frost") | YLE | ||
| France | Inspecteur Frost ("Inspector Frost") | France 3 TMC | ||
| Italy | Jack Frost | La7 | March 2006 | Saturday, 2 pm |
| Japan | フロスト警部 ("Detective Inspector Frost") | AXN Mystery | ||
| Netherlands | KRO | Wednesday 21:20-23:05 | ||
| New Zealand | Prime (New Zealand), TV1, UK.TV | |||
| Norway | Detektiv Jack Frost ("Detective Jack Frost") | NRK1 | ||
| Poland | Sprawa dla Frosta ("A Case for Frost") | Universal Channel | 6 December 2007 | Thursday, 9 pm |
| Romania | Frost | Universal Channel | ||
| Slovenia | Frost | Kanal A | ||
| Sweden | Ett fall för Frost ("A Case for Frost") | SVT1, Kanal 9 | Varying nights, 9pm | |
| United States | A&E Network and streaming via Netflix |
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