Answering call of Duty

Nothing was left to chance vis-à-vis my catering requirements for the return of Line Of Duty last night.

I simply defrosted a portion of chilli from my last batch-cooking session, popped it in the microwave and I was ready to go.

Now, if you watched the last series of this police corruption drama on BBC2 you’ll have got that culinary reference to Matthew “Dot” Cottan. If you’re a newcomer to the series following its “promotion” to BBC1 you’ll wonder what the hell I’m on about.

Fortunately, after that cliffhanger ending last night I’m pretty sure you have more important issues to deal with.

In all the years I’ve been doing this job I have never been more desperate to watch the next episode of anything. It looks like this show has just got even better.

A betting man might conclude we are about to lose Thandie Newton, above, or Jason Watkins.

They could both survive, I suppose. Line Of Duty veterans will tell you, though, that no one is bigger than the show.

Just ask Jessica Raine, who joined series 2 on a high from Call The Midwife and left it from an even bigger high – a fifth floor window – after just one episode.

Still, at least the three corruptionbusting ever-presents – Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar – are all still there.

NB. As I write.