Without Sin

This was an excellent Twixtmas binge-watch. ITV seems to have created a distinct genre of regionally filmed and located drama, and this one does not disappoint. The action slowly reveals the circumstances that led to a girl's death and then equally carefully strips away piece by piece all the certainties surrounding it. Cleverly, none of the characters from the grieving parents, to an exploited teenager appear particularly likeable, nor are they written to elicit the audience's sympathy. The drama also explores the grim reality of life in areas that are run by drug gangs and the pervasive grip of fear that such gangs can exert.

Three years on from the murder of her daughter Maisy, Stella Tomlinson receives a visitor request from her miller Charles Stone. The meeting is intended to help Stella grieve, but Stone makes a shocking admission.

Worth noting that this series was co produced by it's lead stars, Vicky McClure and Johnny Harris, neither disappoint, both in terms of acting and input.

Without Sin is a great series, without a doubt this is one of the best crime dramas for some time, let's be honest there's nothing particularly new or original, but what is done, is done very, very well.

It is very well paced, gritty and often uncomfortable viewing, Stella's search for the truth is enthralling, you will spend the whole time wondering if Charles is lying or not, did he really do it, is he playing her along, you're made to wait.

Terrific acting, not just McClure and Harris, but Dorothy Atkinson, Callum Fuller and Con O'Neill. The only character I wasn't keen on, was that wig.

Well worth your time.

9/10.

This four-part gritty prison / whodunit reunited "This Is England" stars Vicky McClure and Johnny Harris. Set in the actress's native Nottingham, she plays the taxi-driver mother of her teenage daughter who, three years before, she found murdered in her own home, with Harris seemingly caught in the act as the apparent killer. Now, under a Home Office initiative bringing together the family of victims with the convicted felon, she eventually gives in to her curiosity and meets with him, although her now ex-husband, their relationship having since foundered, is completely against the idea.

Following their meeting, alternative versions of what happened on the fatal night come into play with the viewer left to wonder if Harris is genuine in protesting his innocence or whether he's manipulating her for his own ends. McClure's daughter's girl friend, who was with her the night she died, has gone missing with suspicion falling on the local gang-lord and his son but in the end it takes initiative and courage on McClure's part to finally uncover the truth.

Told darkly over four cogent, strongly acted, especially by the leads, cleverly put-together episodes this was a convincing drama with a surprise reveal at the end I hadn't anticipated.

A very much dressed-down McClure, nominated for a BAFTA for her performance, excels as the crusading mother while Harris matches her for conviction and skill

A really good fictional drama from ITV, a welcome change from the slew of real-life major-crime reconstructions dramas aired of late.

Good in fact very good, but ruined by both main characters (male) whispering their script..Awful. So I switched off 20mins into 2nd episode. This fad needs to be stopped. It's a ridiculous way to speak unless your hiding in a cupboard from a kidnapper. Whole thing saved my the exellent Vicky mclure. .. she plays a deeply sad woman and one with excellent hearing. It seems.

The earthy allure of Vicky McClure is always a welcome attraction to any show and kept me watching through what felt like a run-of-the-mill ITV drama viewers have come accustomed to in the past decade or so but, fear not, there is a lot more to this story with a great twist in the tail to the whodunit in thd final episode.

There is thd obligatory policeman but being a police an isn't key to the character role and also thd smattering of ethnic minorities that the woke brigade insists upon these days but this us set in a provincial UK city so sort of depicts the population you would see.

There are a few dodgy Nottingham accents "me duck" but doesn't put you off the story too much if you only know London, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle accents.

Well worth watching but there is some filler there too.