A local outcast, who was controversially acquitted of murder years previously, is the latest inductee into a post-operative heart rehab club. Following his arrival, members’ dreams of a second chance at life begin being cut short.
Tamworth Springs is home to Midsomer’s very own Stitcher Society, a social and health club for recovering heart bypass patients; the name of the club was inspired by the post- operative scar running down the middle of the members’ chests. Founded four years ago by Reuben Tooms, the Stitcher Society is a place for people to embrace their second chance at life, a second chance which is a gift that should be embraced to the fullest. The club does this by offering lectures, counselling, fitness classes, and most importantly new challenges, anything that will ignite a passion for life again!
Bamboo shinai sticks are clashing as part of their latest event day, as the club members are engaged in a kendo class. The session is going well until Gideon (Reuben’s son) introduces the latest member – Toby. The group are outraged, so much so that the usually timid Georgie threatens to kill Toby, leaping to thrust her shinai stick at his throat. Clearly not all second changes are a gift! Blood pressures are raised until Reuben steps in to calm the situation, he then surprises the members when he backs Toby’s induction, telling Georgie they can talk about all this later.
The following morning, Reuben is found murdered on the village green – a sharpened shinai stick protruding from his chest.
Barnaby and Winter are called to investigate, and after being informed about the flare up at the club they interview Georgie, asking what Toby did to make himself so unpopular. Georgie explains that five years previously, Toby was arrested for the brutal murder of Viola, Reuben’s sister-in-law. However, due to an unreliable witness the case fell apart and Toby was controversially acquitted.
Georgie ran the local paper and following the collapse of the trial, publicly hounded Toby, whipping the village into a frenzy until he was hunted down by an angry mob demanding a confession, but Toby managed to escape and fled Tamworth Springs. However, now Reuben is claiming, after all these years, that Toby is innocent… and that he has proof.
Barnaby and Winter question if Toby is he back to settle scores, or could someone be taking revenge for siding with Viola’s murderer? The pressure is on to find out and to discover what caused Reuben to suddenly be convinced of Toby’s innocence, before the killer has chance to strike again…
- Writer – Jeff Povey
- Director – Roberto Bangura
- Producer – Carol Ann Docherty
Cast
- Annette Badland as Fleur Perkins
- Fiona Dolman as Sarah Barnaby
- Hannah Waddingham as Mimi Dagmar
- Harriet Thorpe as Georgie Tremayne
- Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Gideon Tooms
- John Thomson as Cooper Steinem
- Keith Allen as Harry Marx
- Lizzy McInnerny as Alberta Tooms
- Michael Nardone as Mack McInally
- Natalie Simpson as Erika Marx
- Neil Dudgeon as DCI John Barnaby
- Nick Hendrix as DS Jamie Winter
- Nimmy March as Julia Steinem
- Peter de Jersey as Toby Wagner
- Silas Carson as Reuben Tooms
- Sirine Saba as Jocasta Farthing
The Stitcher Society airs Sunday, April 11th, 2021 at 8pm on ITV.
