JIMMY McGovern isn’t the sort of man to hide his opinions – or indeed, his talent – so perhaps it was a bit remiss of this blog not to sing the praises of The Street (BBC 1, 9pm).
It’s a great series, and McGovern, along with his team of writers, make great use of the fact that the only thing linking the episodes, each a self-contained drama in its own right, is the fact they take place on the same street.
Very few dramas get people talking at the office the next day (except Spooks, but this series it has been more likely to elicit comments like ‘isn’t the new format crap’ than how good it has been) and tonight’s is no exception, throwing up, as is does, moral judgements which are harder to call than you might expect.
Cath Hanley lives on the street with three children, the eldest of whom is Ian. Husband Vinnie is in prison, awaiting trial following a drugs deal. Jan, Cath's sister, lives across the street with husband Danny and their only son, Gary.
Gary has been accepted into the Navy, and Ian joins his cousin for a night out. After a pub crawl, they head home in a taxi, but Gary isn't feeling too good and gets out to throw up. The driver's had enough and drives on with just Ian in the back. Ian shouts at the driver to stop and wait for his cousin and, thinking that Ian is going to become a problem, the driver stops and becomes violent.
Gary arrives at the scene and lays into the driver, slamming his head in the cab door. With the driver unconscious, Ian persuades Gary to run off to avoid being caught. Ian stays to help the injured driver. Suddenly other cab drivers arrive and automatically assume that Ian is to blame and hold him as they wait for the police.
In the morning, Jan and Cath pick Ian up from the police station. Ian doesn't blow Gary's cover, but tells him that he'll have to come forward. Gary agrees, but Ian doubts his promises. Gary prepares to leave for the Navy and has a leaving party. Ian reluctantly attends, but is later taken away by the police – the taxi driver has now died from his injuries. Ian asks Gary to hand himself in.
Cath realises what has been going on, as does her husband, Danny. Back home, Danny tells Gary to do the right thing, but Jan won't hear of it. Later, after much angst, Gary decides on his own course of action...
Lorraine Ashbourne is Cath Hanley, Matt Smith is Ian Hanley, David MacReedy is Vinnie Hanley, Gina McKee is Jan Parr, Lorcan Cranitch is Danny Parr and Kieran Bew is Gary Parr.
And I would highly recommend Waterloo Road (BBC 1, 8pm) – a highly under-rated drama which actually manages to create a fun, but involving, series in a school.
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