Paul Abbott

Series three of the Manchester cop drama concludes with an episode that variously features an outrageously tasteless - and funny - medical emergency played out in a toilet ("Can we cover that up before we zap him?"), one of the team properly in danger and, at the finish, a real emotional kick. This is still quite the best police procedural around thanks to Paul Abbott's writing, and its fine ensemble cast, headed by the fabulous Joanna Scanlan as DI Viv Deering, a study in street-smart cynicism tempered by rough charm.

The complexion of Paul Abbott's excellent cop show changes tonight with the arrival of sexist hardliner DCI Terry Taylor, AKA "Terry Dactyl", who wastes no time proving there's more of the dinosaur about him than just his nickname. For Viv and co the time has come to expose fraudulent new mayor Caroline McCoy.

Paul Abbott's Manchester cop drama gets better by the week. Tonight, the Friday Street team have just hours to track down a poisoned batch of halal meat. Prepare yourselves as Viv performs an unintended striptease; Miller unleashes a mean karaoke falsetto; and Dinah earns her stripes.

TV review: No Offence

Paul Abbott's manic black-comedy police drama returned, but this opening episode was given over to tragedy, not laughs.

Mike Ward previews tonight's TV: No Offence

If I were to tell you that by the end of this episode, after just short of an hour's TV, I'd found myself not only horrified, not only hooked but had also actually laughed and cheered on more than one occasion, you could be forgiven for thinking I wasn't quite right in the head. But I am, I promise you.

Bad omens abound - there is a full moon and DI Viv Deering has got her knickers on back to front - as Paul Abbott's Manchester crime drama returns for a third season. Tonight, tragedy strikes when the Friday Street team are drawn into the world of local politics and a routine mayoral election debate ends in bloodshed.

No Offence, series 3 episode 1 review

A bizarrely similar plot to Bodyguard only the cops are Northern and swear more.

Review: No Offence returns and we couldn't be happier.

On a beautiful September's evening, I along with an audience of lucky people and cast members attended the premiere screening of the opening episode of No Offence series three and a cast Q&A (more on that this week)

The second series of Paul Abbott's blackly comic, bracingly in-your-face cop drama kicked off with a fateful explosion at a Manchester gangland funeral, and tonight's finale threatens to end with an even bigger bang. The indomitable DI Deering seems to be closing in on calculating racketeer Nora Attah but, in reality, her unit is falling apart. Can coppers Dinah and Joy rub along with their steamrollering boss long enough for them all to make the ultimate collar?