TV review

Rose And Maloney (ITV1)

WITNESSES due to testify in court are receiving bunches of flowers with the message WE R WATCHING U. BBC bosses will be hoping that viewers follow their example and pay attention to the new filmed-in-Newcastle police series 55 Degrees North.

This Timothy Prager-created drama reaches parts that other TV detective series rarely do - the North-East. Much use is made of the mean streets of Newcastle at night, although they do seem strangely deserted.

The question that needs to be asked is whether the series offers more than regular employment for a repertory company of North-East actors.

Any new cop show needs a gimmick and 55 Degrees North has plenty.

Not for nothing was the original title Night Detective. Its hero, Detective Sergeant Nicky Cole, has moved up from London and his boss has him on permanent night shift.

Being black, he's an outsider in another way too. That provided a nice moment when his child reported after his first day at school that the other kids didn't like him - not because he was black but because he came from London.

Before the credits, Cole had been pulled over by two of his new colleagues who were unaware he's a cop. One smashed his car light for no good reason. Cole suggested he'd been pulled over "for driving while black".

The plot had something to do with a reluctant witness being terrorised by the gang against whom he was due to testify. There was a domestic stabbing for a spot of light relief, plus talk of heavy nights in Hexham and Cole observing the fashion habits of Geordies. "No-one wears a coat, unless they're shoplifting," he said.

It was all very mean and moody. Newcastle looked splendid, although I don't know how the tourist board will explain away all the shootings, stabbings and firebombing of houses.

There were also far too many regular characters to take in on first viewing. It was very much setting the scene. Judgement must be reserved, but it passed the initial test - the first episode made me want to watch the next one.

More detective work featured in Rose And Maloney, which passed the test with a pilot episode and has earned a full series. The gimmick here is that the titular pair work for the Criminal Justice Review Agency, which aims to put right injustices.

Rose (Sarah Lancashire) is the maverick investigator who doesn't stick to the rules, much to the horror - and secret admiration - of her new sidekick Maloney (Davis).

This week's case involved an 18-year-old jailed a decade previously for killing a pensioner. He couldn't remember doing it and Rose realised there was more to the murder than met the eye. As soon as a Home Office representative ordered her to drop the investigation, there was no doubt that she'd do the exact opposite.

The odd couple detective scenario may be a clich but Lancashire and Davis make a good team, while the mystery was sufficiently convoluted to keep you guessing.

Whether it was good enough to keep viewers from watching 55 Degrees North. only the ratings will tell.

Dinner, Newcastle Theatre Royal

I'D been looking forward to seeing this: a cast which includes Stephanie Beacham and Louise Jameson, together with Patrick Ryecart and wild card Gaby Roslin, promises an interesting evening.

Moira Buffini's Dinner starts off as a comedy, with sparkling repartee and Ms Beacham giving her celebrated performance as the bitchy hostess with a nice line in thinly veiled insults. Patrick Ryecart is husband Lars, and the dinner is ostensibly to celebrate the publication of his book. In attendance are old friend Hal (Crispin Redman) with his new wife Sian (Gaby Roslin). An old flame of Lars, artist Wynne, turns up unescorted with torn tights after falling off her bike. Lars is enchanted; hostess Paige is piqued because Wynne's broken marriage affects her table numbers. Cue uninvited guest Mike, whose van has broken down.

Mike's arrival changes the tone of the play. I'm still unsophisticated enough to have difficulty with the f-word used gratuitously, let alone the c-word, and several members of the audience decided they'd had enough and left.

The plot unfolds to reveal a very considerable sting in the tail, but there's a lot of angst to plough through first and we never reach the cheese course.

Stephanie Beacham as Paige and Louise Jameson as Wynne are perfect foils for one another, and put a rather colourless Gaby Roslin in the shade. Mark Hayford is impeccable as the sinister waiter, whose significance emerges in the closing moments of the play. Having sat through the dinner, I could have done with a brandy.

l Runs until Saturday. Booking Office: 0870 905 5060

Sue Heath