Red Cap

In recent years, some actors have found fame in soaps before going on to other things. Some of them have left EastEnders and gone into different shows (usually on ITV) which have been purely vehicles for them. For Ross Kemp, every role has been a variation on Grant Mitchell. Red Cap is Tamzin Outhwaite's effort to shake off her "sexiest female on TV" image which she was dubbed while playing Mel in EastEnders. She's also stayed with the BBC.

We have been here before. There was a series called "Redcap" (one word) in the 1960s about a military SIB sergeant, exactly the role played by Tamzin Outhwaite (Sgt Jo McDonagh). With the gritty scripts and often grainy appearance, the role of Jo McDonagh is definitely not Mel Healy Beale Owen. The plots are fairly well written, although there are too many contrived moments involving other females trying to undermine Sgt McDonagh, and always being proved wrong. There's an occasional sense that the editing and sound effects at dramatic moments is similar to CSI. I also dislike the moments of sexual tension, which only remind the viewer of Tamzin Outhwaite's past!

My only other criticism is that the show is too blatantly a star vehicle, meaning that the other cast members are playing second fiddle.

Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable series, and Tamzin Outhwaite is definitely not typecast - most of the time!