Time for final showdown

WE’VE spent two months scratching our heads over suspicious blue twine, red condom wrappers and football socks.

Not to mention wondering how long it takes Trish to clean all those windows at the back of her house (no? Just us?). But now the third, and last, series of Chris Chibnall’s mystery draws to a close. Unlike the original, it wasn’t a murder that grabbed huge ratings, this time, but the rape of middle-aged shop worker Trish Winterman (Julie Hesmondhalgh).

And after eight weeks of twists and turns, and more red herrings than you’d find in the Channel, DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) uncover the truth.

With half of Wessex attending the 50th birthday party of Cath Atwood (Sarah Parish) dozens of men could have been responsible. But some seemed guiltier than others.

At the end of last week’s episode, dodgy cabbie Clive Lucas had a key ring with Trish’s picture on it. And let’s not rule out his creepy son.

The finger of suspicion has been pointed at Lenny Henry’s obsessive Ed Burnett, womanising Jim Atwood who has no alibi, Trish’s dodgy ex, Ian, who’s been spying on her, and fishing-shop worker Leo Humphries.

Miller’s porn-obsessed teen son Tom hasn’t done much to endear himself, but surely we can’t handle Ellie having a rapist child as well as a murdering husband?

If you want more of Chibnall’s storytelling, tune into Doctor Who, where he’s taking over as show runner.

And anyone wanting more of our bickering detectives (all of us, surely?) will have to petition for a Miller and Hardy spin-off.