Scott and Bailey

This week saw the sixth and final episode of the fairly average but always watchable crime drama "Scott and Bailey". It did something which too many British cop series don't do and that was to engage with the characters instead of being all plot. It was created by Surrane Jones (centre) who plays DC Rachel Bailey and is famous for her time in Coronation Street. She is ably supported by the always good Lesley Sharp (left) as DC Janet Scott. But for me, the standout performance was from Amelia Bullmore (right) as their brilliant boss DCI Gill Murray. Her television career started in 1993 in "Cracker" and she has been very busy since then, recently in "Ashes to Ashes" and "Twenty Twelve". In this new series she was just fantastic.

The writer was Sally Wainwright, always known in this house for her great screenplay for "At Home with the Braithwaites". And I have to mention the director of the final episode Ben Caron. The final scene in the pub was a fabulous close up across the bar of the two shattered DC's who are then joined by their equally hurt DCI and then the mesmorised DS. You could cut the tension with a knife. Best bit of TV for ages.