In a bit of bothy

FOR the past six months, Sunday nights have been synonymous with hurtling live-action drama 24; all terrorists, explosions, terse mobile phone conversations and people having their thumbs cut off. In fact, there was often so much going on that the screen split into four just to show all the blockbusting action. Unfortunately, it's now finished. But those concerned about where to source an adrenaline fix on the Sabbath need not fear; Monarch Of The Glen is back.

That's a joke, obviously. The incompetent-laird drama might be hugely successful - the second most popular BBC programme in Australia, apparently, and predictably huuuge in the USA - but it's hardly edge-of-the-seat stuff. Perhaps in a bid to liven things up a little, the writers have decided to populate this fourth series with wolves. Yes! Wolves!

That promises a little excitement, doesn't it? Conjuring up pictures of that kilted mooncalf from the Vodaphone adverts being mercilessly chased down by a pack of snarling, feral lupines oafish Kilwhillie ripped to fleshy shreds by needle-sharp teeth as soon as he steps down from his Land Rover Discovery faithful ghillie Golly holed up in a bothy, repelling an overwhelming canine force with his trusty shotgun, grimly deciding to save that last cartridge for himself.

This is what I see in my head. The reality, perhaps inevitably, is a world away. Archie - head of the Glenbogle estate since Richard Briers snuffed it - has decided to start up a wolf sanctuary to save his ailing pile. This might unspool into a Jurassic Park-esque, wolves-go-kill-crazy plot later in the series - fingers crossed - but in this establishing episode, it's all footage of the little blighters looking cute, reaching a fluffy climax when the alpha female gives birth to lots of little wolves.

Away from the killer dogs, it's business as usual; a parade of farcical misunderstandings among the dysfunctional extended family of Glenbogle which, while hardly original, is now cosily familiar, at least.

After that, it's Wuthering Heights remix Sparkhouse, starring oor ain Joe McFadden (or, as the credits have it, Joseph McFadden). Wee Joe is on pretty safe ground here as Andrew, a nice middle-class boy preparing to go to university but reluctant to leave his common-as- muck sweetheart Carol. They roll around the Yorkshire dales with the easy intimacy and irritating unselfconsciousness of young sweethearts. But what starts off as a fairly straightforward puppy- love story rapidly becomes a near-operatic melodrama after a couple of dirty family secrets are tossed out like emotional hand grenades.

It all gets a bit hysterical a bit too quickly, but there's still a real punch to Sparkhouse, largely due to the gutsy, passionate performance from Sarah Smart as wildcat Carol - the embodiment of a free spirit and pretty handy with an axe - while Alun Armstrong is also brilliant as her perma-cursing dad. There's a real artistry to the direction and shot composition, too - particularly noticable after the workman-like Monarch Of The Glen - which adds a feature- film sheen to the essentially soapy goings-on. Worth a watchu 24 may well be over but the BBC has kindly given us a couple of cracking dramas in its place. Well, all right, it's given us something else to watch Monarch Of The Glen Tonight, BBC1, 8pm Sparkhouse Tonight, BBC1, 9pm

Copyright 2002
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.