Les Misérables (2018 Tom Shankland)

Cannot comment on Andrew Davies' adaptation of Victor Hugo classic, other than that it moves along wonderfully. At end of Episode 3 of 6 it does seem that any time there's a glint of happiness for poor Jean Valjean (a wonderfully vivid Dominic West) or Cozette, something awful happens - usually in the shape of unrelenting nemesis Javet (David Oleyowo at his most steely - do we learn why he's so obsessed?), but let's not forget vile Adeel Akhtar and Olivia Colmans neither.

Good old Lily James for electing to play a smaller part, sans hair and teeth!

Oh - the end. Well, we were underimpressed by Andrew Davies' adaptation, finally. We don't understand why Javet has this fixation, and therefore that aspect is annoying. When he proposes his prison reforms, it's lost - surely that's something we want to hear? And we don't feel that Shankland has wrought the best performances - Oyelowo is too slow, Akhtar comes over like the pantomime baddy, Ellie Bamber is too drippy, even Josh O'Connor (so good in The Durrells) seems flammy.

To be honest, I'm not sure that Hugo's story is that good to start with.

Quite liked Erin Kellyman, and Reece Yates as Gavroche.