Burnside
The Daily Telegraph, 21st June 2001 

by Eleanor Sprawson 

(Friday, ABC, 8.30pm)

They can take Burnside out of Sun Hill, but they can't take Sun Hill out of Burnside. Within two minutes of this new series built around The Bill's most notorious detective, he's snarled the immortal words "You're nicked."

Ahh. Some things really are forever. In atmosphere, this series - which places the DCI at the head of a team of officers in Britain's National Crime Squad - is far removed from the familiar world of Britain's longest-running cop show. It is darker, more film-like in look and much more slick. 

However, Burnside himself hasn't changed a bit. His glare is still only matched in scariness by his smile, he's still wearing that old black coat, his main expertise still seems to be kicking in the doors of council flats - and, of course, he still says "You're nicked" like nobody else. It's these familiar things that the view must cling to during the first two episodes fo the new six-part series in order to make any sense of what is going on, with new characters and situations flicking past just a bit too quickly to get to grips with. However, it's worth making the effort - the series gets better very fast. 

© 2001

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