Cracker

Turning over to ITV for Cracker last night was rather like going to a UGC to see a foreign language film. Just as the lack of Hollywood explosions sits uncomfortably with the popcorn and 2-litre tubs of Coke, so monologues about 9/11 jar with commercial breaks featuring Martin Kemp advertising the latest sale at DFS.

If you've not seen it or heard of it before, Cracker revolves around the drinking, smoking, gambling, flabby all 'round maverick Dr. Edward 'Fitz' Fitzgerald (played by Robbie Coltrane), a criminal psychologist - the best in his field - who aides Manchester police in murder enquiries. Yes, this set up all sounds very gittish and silly, but - as Christopher Eccleston, a former cast member - has put it, the series is like a Trojan Horse: it is a powerful issue-based drama series masquerading as a police-drama. The crime-drama is merely a hook in which to deal with rape, homophobia, racism, and - in last night's case - American foreign policy and Iraq.

The issues dominated last night's episode more than ever before (I think it's only slightly fatuous to say that Iraq and Tony Blair, culled from news footage, had as much screen time as Coltrane.) The plot (a flimsy, convoluted story about an ex-servicemen killing Americans) seemed an afterthought to the actual debates going on within the story. It was powerful and thought provoking, a type of programming recently anathema to ITV (This is the channel who recently spent £12m on "Love Island." More than was spent on the new series of Doctor Who).

In addition to being critically acclaimed, the episode was a ratings success. I do hope it will prove to ITV that they can make such programming and prosper, the result can only be good for everyone.