Malpractice, ITV1, Series 2 review - fear and loathing in the psychiatric unit

★★★★ MALPRACTICE, ITV1, SERIES 2 Fear and loathing in the psychiatric unit

Powerful return of Grace Ofori-Attah's scathing medical drama

Following on from the first series of Malpractice in 2023, this second season again probes into issues of medical malfeasance and institutional corruption, in an environment where patient care frequently comes second to internal politics and self-preservation. The protagonist first time around was Niamh Algar’s Dr Lucinda Edwards, but this time it’s Tom Hughes as Dr James Ford, who works as a psychiatric registrar at the fictional Queen Mother’s University Hospital.

Fake, ITV1 review - be careful what you wish for

★★★★ FAKE, ITV1 Australian drama probes the terrors of middle-aged matchmaking

Australian drama probes the terrors of middle-aged matchmaking

The art of the conman is persuading their victim to fool themselves, which is the premise that lies at the core of this Australian drama series. 

Adolescence, Netflix review - Stephen Graham battles the phantom menace of the internet

★★★★ ADOLESCENCE, NETFLIX Stephen Graham battles the phantom menace of the internet

How antisocial networks lead to real-life tragedy

A dictionary definition of adolescence is “the transitional phase of growth and development between childhood and adulthood”, but in this four-part drama it looks more like a nightmare zone of uncontrolled rage, anxiety and sexual confusion.

Bergerac, U&Drama review - the Jersey 'tec is born again after 34 years

★★★★ BERGERAC, U&DRAMA Damien Molony boldly follows in the footsteps of John Nettles

Damien Molony boldly follows in the hallowed footsteps of John Nettles

They stopped making the BBC’s original Bergerac in 1991, so you can hardly complain that this reboot is premature. John Nettles became closely identified with the titular detective Jim Bergerac before he decamped to Midsomer, murder capital of the world, and has declared himself impressed with Damien Molony’s performance as the born-again sleuth (pictured below, Molony picks up the baton from Nettles).

A Thousand Blows, Disney+ review - Peaky Blinders comes to Ripper Street?

★★★ A THOUSAND BLOWS, DISNEY+ Peaky Blinders comes to Ripper Street?

The prolific Steven Knight takes us back to a squalid Victorian London

Steven Knight is beginning to resemble the British version of Taylor Sheridan. While Sheridan has been saturating our screens with Yellowstone, 1923, Landman etc, Knight has been reeling off Peaky Blinders, SAS Rogue Heroes and even the story of opera star Maria Callas.

Zero Day, Netflix review - can ex-President Robert De Niro save the Land of the Free?

★★★★ ZERO DAY, NETFLIX Can ex-President Robert De Niro save the Land of the Free?

Panic and paranoia run amok as cyber-hackers wreak havoc

It seems that esteemed former US President George Mullen is subsiding gently into retirement on his luxurious country estate, with a publishing contract for his memoirs if he can ever manage to knuckle down and write them, when fate throws a curve-ball.

The White Lotus, Series 3, Sky Atlantic review - hit formula with few surprises but a new bewitching soundtrack

★★★★ THE WHITE LOTUS, SERIES 3, SKY ATLANTIC Hit formula with few surprises but a new bewitching soundtrack

Thailand hosts the latest bout of Mike White's satirical takedown of the rich and privileged

The return of Mike White’s hit series can be celebrated for one major reason: its extraordinary music. That may sound like a minor reason, but this third iteration of the show confirms that the show's sound world is key to its success.

Brian and Maggie, Channel 4 review - Thatcherism's date with TV destiny

James Graham's dramatisation of Brian Walden's fateful 1989 interview

The thesis underlying this two-part drama is that Brian Walden’s 1989 TV interview with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher marked the end of the long-form, forensic political interview, while also being a catalyst for Thatcher’s resignation a year later. Stephen Frears directs, and James Graham wrote it, basing it on the book Why Is This Lying Bastard Lying To Me? by Rob Burley, a producer of a string of political programmes for ITV and the BBC.

Prime Target, Apple TV+ review - the appliance of science

★★★ PRIME TARGET Boffins and baddies collide in Steve Thompson's complicated thriller

Boffins and baddies collide in Steve Thompson's complicated thriller

An opening sequence of a drone flying over a busy street in Baghdad, followed by a huge explosion that leaves many casualties and a gaping hole where a row of buildings used to be, suggests that Prime Target is going to be another special forces, war-on-terror type of drama.

Out There, ITV1 review - drugs and thugs disfigure the Welsh landscape

★★★★ OUT THERE, ITV1 Martin Clunes stars in Ed Whitmore's smartly-written drama

Martin Clunes stars in Ed Whitmore's smartly-written drama

If nothing else, ITV’s new thriller Out There is a fabulous advertisement for the Welsh countryside. Many scenes were shot in Brecon and the Black Mountains, amid acres of wild, rambling moorland and majestic hillsides. But it’s not always a happy place. Here, farmer Nathan Williams (Martin Clunes) is trying to hang on to his family business, but profits are low, overheads are high, and the recently widowed Nathan isn’t as young as he used to be.