New Tricks

4:59pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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IT HAS been a case of the sublime and the ridiculous as far as new additions to the BBC schedule in the past fortnight are concerned.

The sublime was the return of New Tricks (Monday), with Sandra and her 'boys' tackling cold crimes in a much more watchable way than the turgid Waking the Dead.

The second episode in the new series on Monday was a joy, with Alun Armstong excelling as oddball Brian.

After being praised by a theatre director, who mistakenly thought he was auditioning for a part in a production of Julius Caesar, dear old Brian decided he was destined for a new career on the stage.

There was some wonderful, ironic repartee between Brian and Gerry about middle class actors with 'plums in their mouths', as Gerry denied ever having trod the boards.

Unfortunately, a photograph of him resplendent in Shakespearean garb was unveiled by the young nephew of Sandra's boss, who was on a fast track programme to the forensic science department, at the end of the episode.

This must be one of the best crime series on the box, with superb scripts, inspired casting and a sense of fun that shines through some of the serious subject matter.

And then there was Bonekickers (Tuesday)!

Ridiculous is too mild a word to describe this offering. I know very little about archeology, but surely this is the most unrealistic portrayal of the discipline possible?

This is definitely one series that should have been buried so deep that even a future Indiana Jones wouldn't be able to find it.