When DCI Gene Hunt's former Manchester colleagues, DCI Litton and DI Bevan, turn up on his patch he immediately smells a rat. They're in pursuit of northern comic Frank Hardwick who's wanted for stealing 2,000 pounds from the Police Widows Fund. However, their desperation to track him down leaves Gene and DI Alex Drake suspicious of their real motive.

Litton and Bevan quickly get their feet under the table at CID when DCI Jim Keats offers them the full co-operation of the team and DI Ray Carling reminisces with them about the good old days.

In a show of machismo it soon becomes a race between Gene and Litton to get to Frank first. Gene is quick to resort to underhand tactics and in a desperate bid to bring him in he attempts to plant stolen porn videos on him via lady of the night, Gloria.

When interrogating Frank, Alex discovers he's terrified of someone at the station and it seems there is more to this case than meets the eye. The team need to bring the corrupt cop down and it soon becomes apparent that Frank's adversary may be smarter than anticipated.

Meanwhile, Alex takes advantage of having some of Gene's old Manchester colleagues around and takes the opportunity to delve deeper into the disappearance of Sam Tyler. Show less