The curious case of the disappearing police wife

ON THE BOX

▼ It’s a tough life being a telly cop show wife.

Even in 2018 you’re often just there so the menfolk can come home to show their touchy-feely human side and share some chat about their crook-catching day.

It was even tougher for Amy Carlson, Linda Reagan in the hit American series Blue Bloods.

For one thing, her hot-tempered husband Detective Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) made flying off the handle an art form and she was forever having to play peacemaker.

For another, if it wasn’t her nursing job putting her at peril it was the baddies Danny targeted who had taken umbrage.

But having survived seven years – on screen at least – with the short-fused copper, this new series kicked off with a belter.

Linda had perished, we were told, in a helicopter crash.

That was it. No on-screen farewell, no heartbreaking death scene or sensational shock we never saw coming.

Just gone. Not forgotten, of course, as the tight-knit Reagans have had to shuffle the chairs to accommodate one less round the table in the weekly dinner scene.

Being as we have to move on, though, they’ve taken it pretty well, all things considered.

Police Chief Frank (Tom Selleck) is taking the lead by keeping the stiffest of stiff upper lips.

Though it’s obviously hard to tell under that massive monster of a moustache!

▼ If Danny Reagan was looking for a distraction from his loss, he might pop over and offer advice to the armed cops in this week’s finale.

Snails have moved faster. Round like a shot? No chance.