Tipping the wink about blue Velvet

AS the BBC is intent on selling this drama to viewers as a shocking lesbian love story, let's start with the facts. Not until the 46th minute of the hour-long, first episode does any girl-on-girl action took place.

Writer Andrew Davies has adapted the book by Sarah Waters and, I suspect, was being mischievous when he publicly called the series "absolutely filthy". He was fibbing.

The series won't be for those who objected to the kiss between two policemen in uniform in The Bill (although if they'd been out of uniform, even more complaints would have followed). But, on the evidence of the opening instalment, Tipping The Velvet is not the no-holds-barred, blue velvet experience that the makers have suggested.

It's the age-old tale of an innocent from the country going to the big city and being seduced by a pretty face. That it belongs to a woman rather than a man is neither here nor there.

The series has all the hallmarks of BBC costume (or should that be, out of costume) drama, given a few contemporary flourishes by director Geoffrey Sax. It looks wonderful, is very well acted and moves along at a speed that thwarts boredom setting in.

Nan (Rachael Stirling, who won't thank me for reminding you she's Diana Rigg's daughter) works in the family oyster parlour in Whitstable. She doesn't mind "spooning" with sweetheart Freddy, adding: "We weren't fast". This is code for the fact that she won't go all the way.

She does go to the music hall and comes over all funny on seeing male impersonator Kitty Butler (Keeley Hawes). "What would she think if she knew the part she played in my fierce dreamings," moans Nan as her hand slipped beneath the bedcovers.

These theatre folk are a rum lot. "People like that aren't like us, they don't lead normal lives," our heroine is warned.

That's part of the attraction as she and Kitty, unaware Nan's madly in love with her, head for "the gay metropolis"(yes, someone really says that) of London.

"You don't mind doubling up, I hope," says Kitty, like a cat who's got the cream, as they discover they're sharing a double bed.

Nan's sister Alice is on hand to voice the objections of disgusted of Tunbridge Wells by telling Nan that she's doing wrong and doesn't want her near her. Personally, I can't wait to see what she gets up to next.