by Greg Hassall 

He's back, he's bitter and he's bent on revenge. Yes, the long-awaited six-part spin-off of The Bill is here and it doesn't disappoint. The plot is simple. DCI Frank Burnside (Chris Ellison) has been appointed head of the National Crime Squad, a unit that employs modern policing techniques to fight organised crime. Burnside's motive for joining is soon clear: he wants revenge on a crim-turned-celebrity writer who killed his partner years before. 

So is it any good? Well, yes, in a camp, knowing kind of way (the opening scene is pure parody). 

Although it looks like The Bill, with the same static, shot-on-video feel, it's darker, sexier and funnier. Eschewing The Bill's ensemble approach, it focuses on three characters - Burnside, Detective Sergeant Summers (Justin Pierre) and Detective Constable Philips (Zoe Eeles). Summers and Philips are the spunky new face of modern policing and the show's humour lies in the clash of cultures when Burnside joins the unit. 

Burnside, as always, is a charming thug and the show is a lot of fun. 

© 2001, John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd

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