Spooks (BBC1)

Ruby Wax With - Joan Collins (BBC1)

THIS kind of high-tension drama is usually saved for Saturday night when big audiences are guaranteed.

But thankfully Spooks is at the start of the week when the viewer's brain is more likely to be alert and able to cope with its twists and turns.

To say Spooks is complicated is like saying Countdown is an annoyingly addictive daytime quiz.

There's no chance of keeping one eye on this MI5 spy drama while you're doing the ironing or washing up - your undivided attention is essential.

Last night there were murderous Columbian drug barons, nasty British financiers and a plot to steal some nuclear missiles to deal with.

There were also sub-plots of a mole in the spy department, salsa lessons and a romance between two of the agents.

The drama started with the very bloody murder of eight Customs and Excise officers. They were garrotted moments after one had been talking in a dewy-eyed fashion about her son.

As soon as she said she was planning to watch him play football with his friends you knew she would come to a sticky end.

The murders led the agents into all sorts of spiralling plots that only the highest concentration levels could work out.

But even if you missed the more specific plot twists and turns there was something about this show that just sucked you in.

All the actors believe what they are saying and doing and have obviously had the plot explained in minute detail so they can really live out the story.

The OTT scripts, dramatic stories and fantastic acting make it impossible to turn the TV off even if you are not entirely sure what is going on.

It was also difficult to know what was happening when Ruby Wax met Joan Collins.

The screaming American tried not to be fazed by the demure, glamorous English woman but we learnt nothing new about Joan as Ruby rushed around trying to maintain her place in the spotlight.

Sadly, when faced with a woman in her 70s who looked young enough to be her daughter, even Ruby's attention-seeking failed to impress.

l Steve Pratt is on holiday