Double up on thrillers

I’m beginning to think ITV doesn’t really fancy Cold Feet anymore.

Last year’s comeback won rave reviews and pulled in over seven million viewers.

This year? It’s been dumped in the Friday night dead zone and the ratings have almost halved.

What’s even more baffling is ITV has given Cold Feet’s cosy Monday slot to a new thriller from the team behind BBC One’s The Missing.

Problem being it is up against a new BBC One thriller – from the team behind The Missing.

So prepare to schedule your catch-up sessions with military precision because, based on last night’s openers, both will have you hooked.

ITV’S Liar is the more accessible. Downtown Abbey’s Joanne Frogatt (pictured) and Hornblower’s Ioan Gruffudd play a pair of recently single professionals who go on a date that has dramatic consequences when Joanne’s character accuses Ioan’s of rape.

Through flashbacks which tell the story from both sides we are encouraged to decide who is telling the truth – hence the title.

BBC One’s Rellik also has a wink in the title – it’s killer spelt backwards. The story is told in reverse but it’s far too complicated and grim for me to go into here.

All you need to know is it sucked me in from the off and, if you dare to dip a toe, it will drag you under as well.

Incidentally I should also point out that Liar spelt backwards is rail.

I don’t think that’s a significant detail. Just thought I’d add to the confusion.