Underground thriller with a particularly cast
ASHARP, classy thriller to sink your teeth into, this London-based series has a top-notch cast. Mark Strong, Carice van Houten and Daniel Mays star in the emotionally complex drama based on the critically acclaimed Norwegian original, Valkyrien.
It starts with several things going on at once.
A band of thieves are planning to rob a depot, but not everything goes according to plan.
Meanwhile a surgeon seems to also be stealing, taking drugs and equipment from the hospital where he works.
The two plots collide soon enough of course, and gradually everything becomes a bit clearer.
Daniel Milton is our surgeon, played by Strong, who operates an illegal clinic deep below London’s Temple tube station.
It’s a place where people can seek emergency medical treatment while remaining outside the system and off the
radar. We soon learn that he’s grieving the recent loss of his wife Beth and appears to be out of sorts.
Strong is helped in his clinic by disgruntled underground worker Lee, played by Mays, and guilt-ridden medical researcher Anna, played by van Houten.
Expect a few gory medical scenes as Milton tries to save lives in his underground cave, where it doesn’t appear to be as hygienic as you might like. There are also a few flashbacks as Milton remembers times with
Beth before she died.
As the details emerge slowly, drip fed to us, the questions stack up
– and watch out for a decent twist or two. THIS has got to be one of the nerdiest TV contests on the planet – but it’s obviously popular, it’s back for a second run.
Fifteen teams of railway modellers will compete to create miniature masterpieces against the clock, all to win the coveted crown and a once-in-alifetime spot at an industry exhibition.
Put aside your preconceptions of geeks peering over a train set with glue and brushes – although there is a bit of that – producers insist this is a misunderstood world. It is actually strangely compelling as the teams work to create something impressive.
The first theme is ‘The Restless
Earth’, which sees the enthusiasts work on volcanoes, earthquakes, sink holes and other (small-scale) natural disasters.
One judge, master model-maker and vlogger Kathy Millatt, says: “I want them to make the Earth move for me.”
Full steam ahead for miniature modelling mayhem.
GOGGLEBOX
WATCHING other people watching TV should not be quite so much fun, but the Goggleboxers have become part of our viewing habits and incredibly, this is the 14th series. One of the funniest programmes on the box, their critique of the week’s best and worst shows are well worth tuning into.
Whether it’s the Malones and their mountains of doughnuts and biscuits and ginormous dogs, or hilarious elderly pals Mary and Marina, or the cutting critiques of the Michael clan, these families have become as much a part of our sofas as our own families, pets and TV snacks.
So thank goodness it’s back, a welcome part of our Friday nights.
Watch out for more deadpan reviews from Giles and Mary, more ridiculous misunderstandings from Jenny and Lee and some candid commentary from Ellie and Izzi. And producers have teased there may be a few new faces, too.