I May Destroy You

BBC1, 10.45pm, Monday & Tuesday

This is the fashionable drama format of the moment: a story told in a dozen episodes that last only 30 minutes each.

Following the same template as the hit Normal People, this new series may be tailored for a younger generation but, written by and starring Michaela Coel, it has plenty to offer older viewers too.

The tale is told from the point of view of Coel’s protagonist Arabella (right), a gifted author who seems to have the world at her feet after a first flush of success but is now struggling to meet her agents’ expectations. Escaping a writing all-nighter to go clubbing, she is traumatised and bewildered the next morning to realise she’s been the victim of a sexual assault.

Brace yourself for shocking moments, but Coel’s inventive script bristles with humour and surprises after a sluggish opening. Part two on Tuesday. ★★★★★