I spy a lack of credibility

IF I STAND at my window and surreptitiously peep across the street, can I see inside the house of the people opposite? No, I can’t. I’ve just checked. Fleetingly, I hasten to add.And purely for research purposes.

(Oh God, that just makes it sound worse, doesn’t it?)

But no, I can’t see a thing. Not in any detail.And thank goodness. It means they can’t see into our place either.

Not that I’m suggesting they’d want to.

I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t started this now.

All I’m trying to say is that ITV’s thriller VIEWPOINT, which continues tonight (9pm), lacks plausibility in one key respect. Surveillance cop DC Martin Young (Noel Clarke) has set up his spying gear in a flat directly opposite the suspect’s, but rather than find this is a total waste of time, he’s been able to witness all kinds of iffy behaviour, most of it conveniently well lit, much of it directly through (and indeed at) the suspect’s window, almost as if the suspect is purposefully putting on a show for passers-by and may at some point introduce glove puppets.

But don’t let’s write off this entire series (it’s going out every night until Friday, remember) just because this bit lacks credibility.

For one thing, there are other aspects taking shape tonight, and other characters’ actions and motives under the spotlight.

For another, I tend not to get too worked up when a TV drama becomes a bit far-fetched.

I probably should, but if I start switching off my television whenever a drama does that, I may as well put it on eBay.

When we left the story last night, Martin had just seen Zoe, the single mum who’s letting him use her flat for his surveillance operation, enter suspect Greg’s flat.

Watching from over the road, Martin urgently called her mobile, begging her not to step inside, fearing that she’d mess up the whole job.

By ignoring him, has Zoe made a terrible mistake?

Greg is no stranger to her – she’s a pal of his girlfriend, whose disappearance he’s suspected of being involved in – but we’ve seen what a temper he has.Also, Martin broke the rules himself last night, abandoning his post.Will this come back to bite him in the end?

Elsewhere, in the penultimate part of THE SYNDICATE (BBC1, 9pm), the swindled lottery-winning kennel workers have finally dognapped Duke, beloved Irish wolfhound of thieving newsagent Frank. (I think I’ll cut out and frame that sentence for posterity, it could become an all-item favourite.)

Will cheating Frank now give them back the £27 million he whipped off them?

Duke looks like he’s not fussed either way to be honest, so long as he gets pizza.