The Ruth Rendell Mysteries: Master of the Moor, Part 1

The Ruth Rendell Mysteries: Master of the Moor, Part 1
ITV
2 September 1994
Mystery
DVD
B

Recurring cast:

• Stephanie Buttle as Joanne
• George Costigan as Det. Insp. Manciple
• Emma Croft as Lyn Whalby
• Hugh Downer as Young Peter Naulls
• Rachel Fielding as Painter on the Moor
• Colin Firth as Stephen Whalby
• Peter Gilmore as Frank Malm
• Richard Grahams as Moor Man (later Peter Naulls)
• Patricia Hayes as Grannie Naulls
• Ingrid Lacey as Newspaper Reporter
• B.J. McLagan as Young Stephen Whalby
• John Michie as Nick
• Sion Tudor Owen as D.C. Symons
• Linda Spurrier as Psychiatrist
• Sylvia Syms as Stephen's Mother
• Robert Urquhart as Dadda Whalby

Firth, still about a year away from his star-making role as Darcy in the television production of Pride and Prejudice, plays the apparent title character, a writer and furniture-maker who is tangled up in a mystery, with mysteries in his own life, including why he has never wanted to have sex with is wife of four years.  He's the prime suspect in a woman's murder, although my money's on his "dadda."  I would've gone with a B-, because I had trouble getting my bearings, but there are some adorable kittens, so yeah, B.

Trevor Preston adapted the Rendell novel.  Marc Evans directed all three parts.