The Guilty product reviews

I love nothing better than sitting down to a good quality British television drama and with 'The Guilty' I was treated to what must surely be the cream of British Drama. Produced as a three part series for the BBC one could watch this over three viewing sessions or be completely hooked as I was and barely push pause long enough to make a cup of tea!

The series begins with some very short snippets that set the scene for what is to follow. Five year old Callum goes missing one night from his family home and almost five years to the day his body is found in a coffin buried meters away from his family's home in the common neighbourhood garden. The big question once his body has been identified is "who killed Callum?" The nanny..., her boy friend..., the father or someone else....? and why and how did his body end up buried within sight of the house and no one noticed?

A new investigation is opened with some of the original detectives namely Maggie Brand and everything (and everyone) from the original investigation is re-examined. I won't give too much more away as there are fantastic twists and turns and I was guessing right up to the end as to how Callum had actually died and why. Each time I thought I had the story figured out there would be some new information and the final outcome was in no way what I had guessed.

As an aside the lead detective (Maggie), who was pregnant at the time of Callum's disappearance, is having her own issues with her now school age son. This provides a slight parallel story line which is interwoven very skilfully with the main story.

What I loved most was that there was actually a conclusion at the end so you won't be left guessing as to the outcome ( I just hate it when that happens!). I was absolutely gripped watching this and had planned to watch it over three nights. I ended up watching it in one sitting which did mean I was a little annoyed by the fact I had to endure the few minutes of credits and catch-up shots and the end and beginning of each episode. They did however provide a chance to make a cup of tea!

I have watched a lot of British drama, much preferring it to American offerings, and I have to say this was definitely up there with the best. The quality of acting was superb and the directing, production and script were incredibly well thought out and came together to provide a gripping drama. I am watching Broadchurch at the moment and would rate 'The Guilty' as more gripping. I would highly recommend this and at two hours and 18 minutes approximately you can watch it in one sitting, with a huge load of laundry to iron and fold as I did, or watch it in three parts as it is intended. Either way do watch it because it is truly brilliant television. Thanks very much to the BBC/ITV for producing yet another top quality viewing offering!