In recent years I have always made an effort with most TV shows to try at least 10 minutes of the first episode in a new series, and if it grabs me I'll stick with it, this one from the BBC hooked me quickly, and not just with the recognisable cast, many who have starred in EastEnders. Basically the series revolves around top- secret UNIT (Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team), who track down, trace and try to capture and bust shipments of drugs, especially cocaine, and the criminals dealing, selling, distributing and buying them. Special Agent Marcus "Ash" Ashton (O.T. Fagbenle), an HM Revenue and Customs agent, is the most reliable member of the team who will spy on, identify and pursue the criminals involved in a large shipment, his big aim is to identify the man at the top of the chain, Roach (Trevor Eve). Ash's partner is Tommy (Robert Lonsdale), together they follow the criminals spotted, given the places and locations from tapped phone calls, including Roach's right-hand man Docker (EastEnders' Gary Beadle) and street-based criminal distributor Michael "Xavier" Duffy (Lee Boardman). The UNIT team consist of head Jack Cartwright (Titanic's Ewan Stewart), ex-UK Customs Valerie (Lorraine Ashbourne), ex-Met Police Flying Squad Kim (Anna Skellern) and ex-MI6 Martin (Charlie de Melo), and Ash gets some support from his wife Lorna (EastEnders' Jo Joyner) and their children. Also starring Anthony Grundy as Bernie, India Ria Amarteifio as Hannah, Denzel Assiamah as Footballer, Melissa Johns as Sadie, Rayne Obili as Chloe, Felix Scott as Connor, Jeany Spark as Gemmill, Nathan Whitfield as Kenny, Simon Armstrong as Stannard, Neal Barry as Smoke, David Troughton (Patrick's son) as Ralph, Bob Cryer as Rob Kane, Valeria Vereau as Sonia, Paul Kaye as Jago, Doctor Who's Adjoa Andoh as Anderson, Crims' Theo Barklem- Biggs as Buster, EastEnders' Tiana Benjamin as Mandy, Sacha Dhawan as Astin Ray, Dexter Fletcher as Scooter, EastEnders' Lisa Hammond as Alison, The Office's Ralph Ineson as Yorkie and The Royle Family's Ralf Little as Alex. I admit I have seen much more gripping things than this, but many of the moments, and of course the pursuit to get to the head of the criminal organisation, was good enough for me to stick with to the end, Fagbenle was very good as the title character, and spotting many faces I recognised from my favourite soap opera, if there is another series I suppose I would watch, it is a worthwhile enough drama. Very good!
Review of The Interceptor
