No Offence
Shameless writer Paul Abbott’s awardwinning cop drama is back for a third series – and this time the stakes are higher than ever, as DI Viv Deering (Joanna Scanlan) faces off against their most formidable antagonist yet: a far-right group.
The series opens with a contentious mayoral election, which becomes the flashpoint for deadly violence as a would-be assassin strikes, the results of which strike heartbreakingly close to the heart of the Friday Street station. In the aftermath, Deering’s unconventional team become political pawns and while attempting to find the maniacs on the loose (using their usual, morally dubious methods), they encounter outrageous stories including teenage drug scandals, warring bridesmaids and halal meat poisoning.
As always, this is timely television from Abbott and Scanlan is brilliant as the maternal focal point for the series, but her co-stars shine here too: Paul Ritter is great as Miller, the comic relief, while Will Mellor and Alexandra Roach (as DC Tanner as DS Freers) are unrivalled as they compete to be the toughest cookies in the squad. The resulting episode is gritty, hearttugging and hilarious. Corrine Corrodus