An Affair In Mind (BBC-1 1988, Stephen Dillon, Amanda Donohoe)

In atmospheric thriller An Affair in Mind novelist Gray is drawn into a somewhat torrid affair with the married Drusilla. ‘Dru’ claims that her businessman husband ‘Tiny’ mistreats and rules the relationship with a strong hand. As the affair grows deeper Dru begins talking of making plans to kill Tiny so that she and Gray can make a new start. Gray isn’t keen and begins to distance himself from the relationship before heading off to France to look after his seriously ill mother.

When Gray returns to the UK, following the death of his mother, he discovers that there has been a murder in his flat and he is the prime suspect. Drusilla is nowhere to be seen and in fact it soon becomes obvious to Gray that he has been played for a fool.

An excellent production, An Affair in Mind was made at a time when the BBC and ITV were just discovering how suited Ruth Rendell’s psychological mystery stories were for the small screen. Of course ITV later made the author their own with the long running Ruth Rendell Mysteries and this could easily have appeared as part of that strand. Stephen Dillon is excellent as the know nothing Gray and Amanda Donohoe is even better as the scheming Drusilla.

production details
UK / BBC One – A and E Network – Rosie Films / 1×86 minute episode / Broadcast 5 January 1988

Writer: Michael Baker / Novel: The Face of Tresspass by Ruth Rendall / Stunt Arranger: Bill Weston / Computer Consultant: Dick Byford / Costumes: Lyn Avery / Production Design: Oliver Bayldon / Music: Nigel Hess / Producer: Jacky Stoller / Director: Colin Luke

cast
STEPHEN DILLON as Gray
AMANDA DONOHOE as Dru
RICHARD HAMMATT as Tiny
ANNE LAMBTON as Woman At Party
TREVOR RAY as Man At Party
JUNE ELLIS as Hotel Receptionist
HILARY MASON as Miss Platt
CHRISTOPHER DOWNING as Bank Teller
OWEN BRENMAN as Estate Agent
KAY STONHAM as Isabel
MARK LAMBERT as Francis
JOANNA PHILLIPS-LANE as Charmian
JEAN-LAURENT COCHET as Honore
EVIE GARRATT as Enid
HOWARD COOKE as Gardener
TEX FULLER as Jeremy Rawlings
BEN ROBERTSON as Jones
RANI SINGH as Woman With Baby
MARIA WARNER as RSPCA Receptionist
MATTHEW MARSH as Detective Inspector Brodd
CHRISTOPHER STAHL as Stapleton
EDMUND DRING as Dr Finnegan
CHAMP as Dido (supplied by Stunt Dogs Incorporated)