Superintendent Norman Mullet (played by Bruce Alexander), a social climber concerned with appearances and ambitious for promotion, is Frost's boss and his constant foil on the job. Mullet has a love-hate relationship with Frost whose detective skills he admires but whose people and political skills he abhors. Mullet frequently threatens to sack Frost but Frost's ability to close cases usually saves him. In addition, receiving the George Cross made Frost "the Chief Constable's blue-eyed boy", thus protecting Frost from being sacked or retired by Superintendent Mullet. Frost's nickname for Mullet is "Horn-rimmed Harry" due to the traditional design his spectacles and Frost also has a plastic, mounted "Grey Mullet" hanging on his office wall (a Grey Mullet is a species of fish commonly found in British coastal waters but not usually eaten as it is regarded as being bland). While, in early seasons, the relationship between Frost and Mullet largely mimicks the hostile and antagonistic one they share in the books, they are portrayed as getting on considerably better in later seasons. This coincides with Mullet himself slowly developing over time to becoming more likeable than when he first appears in the pilot episode.