“Still as compellingly watchable and implausible as ever.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.

Spooks

SPOOKS, BBC1

“[It] is anything but cutting edge, which is why it’s so reassuring. Nor does it matter to me that a toddler could have written the dialogue. Spooks delivers. Without fail. Seriously I can hardly wait for next Monday.”
Sarah Vine, The Times

“Still as compellingly watchable and implausible as ever.”
John Crace, The Guardian

“Actually, the entire episode… required a sustained suspension of disbelief, but it was very slickly done, with a few smart nods to reality.”
Brian Viner, The Independent

BOUQUET OF BARBED WIRE, ITV1

“Everything went so far over the top – the writing, the acting, even the score – that it began to look like a spoof. The mistake, I think, was cramming it all into three episodes. The original ran for two series, which allowed room for the misery to develop properly.”
Brian Viner, The Independent

RORY AND PADDY’S EVEN GREATER BRITISH ADVENTURE, C5

”It’s a pairing that works. They embody that very male, very British quality of taking the mickey out of one’s closest friends.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, BBC2

“I rather like a bit of grumpiness and someone unafraid to speak their mind, so I’ve always had a soft spot for [John Humphrys].”
John Crace, The Guardian

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