Critical role

THIS sounds like a tricky name for a series seeking critical acclaim, but this effort penned by Jed Mercurio, of Line Of Duty fame, attempts to use the intensity of 24 and the urgency of ER to show medical staff with one hour – the so-called golden hour – to save someone's life.

Lennie James (The Walking Dead, Line of Duty) leads an ensemble playing locum trauma consultant Glen Boyle, with Catherine Walker (Strike Back) as trauma registrar Fiona Lomas and Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) as trauma consultant Lorraine Rappaport. There's also junior doctor Dr "Harry" Bennett-Edwardes, played by Kimberley Nixon.

The more squeamish will need to have a cushion handy to hide behind because former doctor Mercurio is the man who knows how to create the slicing and dicing required when surgeons at a gleaming new hospital have to work on the inner space of the human body.

This 13-part series is set in a state-of-the-art Major Trauma Centre, a unit which treats only the most gravely ill or seriously injured... which means there is plenty of room for a few House-style put-downs and petulance. Each episode features a new and distinctive case and whether that patient lives or dies is determined by knife-edge decisions and procedures. But can the diverse team of medical professionals knit together and rise to the challenge? It's a series about medicine where the team hold a life in their hands, but in every case they face the agonisingly real fear that it could slip through their fingers.

"The chance to work with Jed again and to come home to be part of such an exciting and ballsy project was too good an opportunity to turn down," says Lennie James, who shadowed vascular surgeon and deputy head of St George's Hospital trauma centre in Tooting, south London, Gary Maytham.

"There are very few people left on this plant that I truly want to impress and Gary Maytham is one of them," says James.

Mercurio says about the inspiration for writing Critical: "I just felt I wanted one more shot at it while I could still remember what it was like being a doctor."

Other members of the cast include: Neve McIntosh (Doctor Who), Prasanna Puwanarajah (The Half Light), John MacMillan (Silk), Ellen Thomas (Rev), Mali Harries (The Indian Doctor), Paul Bazely (Casualty), Danny Kirrane (Trollied) Peter Sullivan (The Hour), Emma Fryer (Chickens, Phone Shop), Orion Lee (Skyfall) and Juliet Oldfield (Top Boy).

Mary Portas: Secret Shopper (C4, 8pm)

OUR Mary will aim to be not too contrary as she attempts to eradicate more poor service, beginning in Burnham, near Slough, at local convenience store Hallmark Foods.

This family business is struggling, with profits falling and customers choosing to shop elsewhere. First up, she watches the undercover footage, and is shocked to see members of staff smoking and swearing in front of customers. Owner Keshu is desperate to turn things around, but Mary first has to dish out a few home truths, especially as she's also noticed that the staff's lack of attention to detail means out-of-date food is being left on the shelves. Keshu is asked to rethink what he sells, and give daughter Ash, who holds a business degree, a larger role in the company. But not everyone is telling the truth about their intentions.

The Gift (BBC1, 9pm)

More tear-jerking tales, starting with Andy, whose trip of a lifetime became a journey into hell when he was caught up in the Boxing Day tsunami. His girlfriend lost her life and he was saved by three strangers he hasn't seen since. Ten years on, Andy wants to track them down and thanking them for their actions.

When Beverley Cox grew up in Kenya, the family's domestic help, Kak, became her protector and surrogate father after her relationship with her own dad became strained. But when the family moved to the UK, Kak was left behind. Mel journeys to Africa to find him.