DCI Banks: To Burn In Every Drop of Blood (ITV 31 Aug – 7 Sep 2016)

The critically acclaimed crime drama, based on the novels by Peter Robinson and starring Stephen Tompkinson as Banks, returns for a fifth series with a new two-part story, To Burn in Every Drop of Blood. When a victim of a frenzied attack is found in the woods with his head caved in, at first Banks and the team – DI Helen Morton (Caroline Catz), DS Annie Cabbot (Andrea Lowe) and DC Ken Blackstone (Jack Deam) – wonder if it is a random attack or related to the location, a shrine to a local girl who recently committed suicide there.

When the victim is identified as small-time drug dealer Damon Horsley (Darragh Mortell) and Banks uncovers a link to local crime boss Steve Richards (Shaun Dooley), Banks is convinced that the hitherto untouchable Richards had a part in the murder. As the rest of the team learn more about Damon and more suspects come under the spotlight they begin to wonder if the infallible Banks has got it wrong this time. While Richards is safely in custody, however, events take a tragic turn for the worse when another body is discovered in the woods.

Part 2 (7 September): While the team investigate the death of Damon Horsley, the post mortem of the daughter of crime boss Steve Richards reveals that her death was not a simple suicide – could someone else have been involved? While the violent Richards conducts his own unique brand of investigation, the focus shifts once again when the team discover that despite Kat’s confession, she cannot have murdered Horsley.

The breakthrough comes when evidence is uncovered that puts Kyle Finn, who found Horsley’s body, in the spotlight, and under questioning he reveals something shocking. However, Banks already knows that he is lying – the real murderer has been hiding in plain sight all along.

production details
UK / ITV – / 2×60 minute episodes / Broadcast Wednesday 31 August and Wednesday 7 September 2016 at 9.00pm

Writer: Nick Hicks-Beach / Director: Robert Quinn

Series: DCI Banks Season 5 Episodes 1 and 2

cast
Stephen Tompkinson as DCI Banks
Andrea Lowe as DS Annie Cabbot
Caroline Catz as DI Helen Morton
Jack Deam as DC Ken Blackstone
Samuel Anderson as DC Vince Grady
Shaun Dingwall as Chief Supt Colin Anderson
Shaun Dooley as Steve Richards
Maimie McCoy as Tamsin Richards
Rosie Sheehy as Kat Richards
Ace Bhatti as Malik Nadir
John Bowler as Dr Justin Wallace
Shereen Martin as Jess McAllistair
Paul Adeyefa as Nathan Horsley
Darragh Mortell as Damon Horsley
Clare Calbraith as Alice Finn
Freddie Watkins as Kyle Finn
Emmanuel Ighodaro as Charlie Franklin
Mark Noble as Brendon Haddon
Christopher Sciueref as Ahmet