The Walk-In

It goes without saying that if Stephen Graham's name is listed on a new drama series, then you know it is an excellent bet to watch.

And The Walk-In is just that. A hard-hitting and tough drama to watch. Based on real events, amidst the shocking murder of Jo Cox in 2016 - a week before the Brexit Referendum - this drama series is raw, gripping and highly disturbing throughout. The script was authentic and most sensitive to what really happened during this time. The direction was very intelligent balancing some very difficult scenes with humanity and sensitivity.

The acting was superior throughout but the stand-out performance for me was Robbie Mullen's character played by Andrew Ellis: he simply lived and breathed the role and it would not be unfair to say he gave Stephen Graham a run for his money. He has a bright TV future ahead.

This is yet another top-notch drama series to hit our screens and yet another which more than delivers.

I highly recommend.

Terrific drama, beautifully performed and well-paced. I notice that a previous reviewer suggests that the series avoided 'points scoring and let events speak for themselves', but I beg to differ. There were, in fact, any number of 'right-thinking' lectures in the episodes, which were rather patronising. It is perfectly possible to be proud of established British culture without choosing violence or extremism. The closing titles were a perfect example of Disraeli's 'lies, damned lies, and statistics'. It was meant to reinforce the writer's view that 'far-right' terrorism is a threat greater than Islamic radicalism, but that argument would be shown to be nonsense in a detailed discussion.

A far right group active in The UK plot to kill a second MP, and target several minority groups, one of the members reaches out to activist, Matthew Collins, who writes anti fascist content.

Hard viewing, it is very uncomfortable to watch at times, the first couple of episodes feature some truly harrowing and upsetting content, you will see some sickening events, truly the worst of humanity, fortunately there's a glimmer of hope.

Stephen Graham, one of my favourite actors, I think he just has it, whatever it is, he has tonnes of it, when he's on screen, I watch, he is tremendous here, credit also to Leanne Best and Andrew Ellis, the acting made this drama. Chris Coghill was excellent too, talk about wild eyed.

I've spoken to a few people that said they couldn't get through episode one, that it was too much, what I would say, is that it is less harrowing towards the end.

Very well produced, superbly acted, it felt very realistic. I appreciate this show isn't for everyone, but I'd recommend it, entertaining as well as informative.

I loved the tribute they made to murdered MP Jo Cox, a tragedy that should never have happened.

8/10.

I absolutely adore Stephen Graham who chooses tough, hard hitting drama rather than any routine roles offered to him.

So it's personally disappointing to only give this a 7/10 because I think it could have been so much better.

The real life situations are hard enough to bear, but when dramatised then I just felt that they should have had more impact.

Acting was great, direction was a bit iffy and the editing was bearable.

But here was something missing which I can't quite put my finger on.

Maybe there was more of a story here regarding the conversion of Graham's character, or a deeper analysis of the different right wing factions and how they differed from each other and what drove them apart.

I could be alone in this, but I was disappointed.

Writer Jeff Pope is no stranger to true life dramas having previously written the excellent 'Little boy blue' (also starring Stephen Graham) about the tragic murder of Rhys Jones in Liverpool.

This is another meticulously researched piece looking at a racist far-right group through the events surrounding the sickening murder of MP Jo Cox in 2016 and a vicious attack on a Sikh dentist, Dr Sarandev Bhambra in 2015.

Its a hard watch and given the politics it could easily have become a point scoring piece but instead chooses to let the true events speak for themselves.

Sensible viewers watching this will draw the same conclusions, don't let the haters win and stand up against hatred wherever you see it. Its moving and important TV that deserves to be widely seen.

It was very well made in all departments - the cast were excellent and authentic. My only criticism would be the length, I think it would have worked better and been tighter over 3 or 4 episodes rather than 5.