A TRIPLE whammy of good programmes from the BBC tonight - tragically, though, all at 9pm.
One on BBC 1, one on BBC 3 and one on BBC 4. The latter two stations being what they are (ie very fond of repeating their good shows), the choice of which one to watch becomes somewhat easier - especially as the one on BBC 1 is the first of a two parter, finishing tomorrow.
The programme on BBC 1 at 9p[m is Silent Witness, which is in its 11th series - and becoming almost as good as CSI, the American drama set around forensics. In fact, there are a lot of similarities.
First off is role of Professor Leo Dalton. A bit of a mystery, but a bit of comfy stickler - sound familar to the role of Gris in CSI? Then there's Tom Ward, the handsome-ish one who is a bit of a maverick? Check, check with Nick in CSI. And the slighly under-valued, but ever so good Nikki Slater - do we see a similarity with Sara in CSI? Too right.
There's no doubting Silent Witness's programmes have got slicker, the incidents the pathologists work on have also got more gory - both traits which make CSI what it is.
But Silent Witness always benefitted from great writing, and the departure of Amanda Burton has given the programme the chance to evolve, rather than become another star crime programme vehicle.
The only thing the Beeb get wrong is doing it in two parts. Sod that. Make it 90 minutes and run it from 8.30pm. If it's good enough, people will watch it.
A horrific car crash involving a lorry and a granny's funeral procession takes a bizarre turn when a second body falls out of the coffin, in the third story of the forensic drama series.
Back at the lab, Leo and Nikki undertake a post mortem on a child who died in surgery. The surgeon in question, Alice Huston, is a leader in her field – but Nikki's suspicions are raised when the father suggests that he'd been misled about the possibility of success in the groundbreaking surgery his child underwent.
When Nikki goes to ask Huston how she explains the risks to her patients' parents, her theatre team leaps hastily to her defence, and it becomes clear that this is not the first time questions have been asked. Huston's father is also clearly very concerned about his daughter's reputation and, while visiting her at the hospital, urges her to see a lawyer. Nikki looks through Huston's case history to find a particularly high rate of fatality – so is she taking on higher-risk cases, or is she just taking higher risks?
On the slab, it emerges that the mystery corpse was a serious cocaine addict – and, curiously, further investigation links back to Alice Huston. An ID on the body shows it is that of Jamie, the boyfriend of Huston's theatre nurse, Claire.
Later, Huston's father reappears at the hospital to show her photos he's commissioned a private detective to take to discredit her patients' parents. Frustrated, she asks him to stop interfering.
Arriving home after hours of police interrogation, Claire suddenly remembers a secret that could explain what happened to Jamie. She rushes back to hospital to confide in Huston, but they're interrupted by Huston's dad again and she turns instead to Nikki, arranging an urgent meeting in the basement. But Nikki is walking into mortal danger – will Harry get to her in time?
Also tonight:
How Dirty Can I Get?: (BBC 3 9pm) - Proof, if it were needed, that seagulls only crap on you when you could really do with them not doing so. Imagine you stop washing to find out what happens to you. Then the bird craps on you. Great idea for a show, and proof if it were needed, that washing is a very good idea.
Comics Britannia: (BBC 4 9pm): The first in a three-part series tracing the history of the British comic book, starting back in the 1930s.
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