Quiet as a Nun: Part 1: The Tower

Journalist Jemima Shore is asked to look into the death of a nun, Sister Miriam, who's body was found in a locked tower at a Convent. Sister Miriam had a host of visions, and an eating disorder, Jemima is curious as to what caused her death.

Having watched the Armchair serials from start to finish, they're pretty good on the whole, there's the awful Circe Complex, which looks cheap and nasty, and at the other end of the scale there's this one, Quiet as a Nun.

The novel is a somewhat overlooked treasure, penned by Antonia Fraser. It was a very well made drama, Maria Aitken does a good job in the leading role, adding an English haughtiness to the character. The true star quality comes from Renée Asherson, who is marvellous, Brenda Bruce is good fun also.

It's very watchable the whole way through, but this is a very solid first episode, it develops, it gets better, and there are several surprises ahead, but this is a very good start.

I've scored it an 9, which some may say is a little high, but I feel there is a definite quality running through it.

9/10.

One of those odd moments in time where it's just as scary later. It's old fear, folks. Many years ago they used to have Public Information Films on TV. This concept will mean nothing to anyone born after 1975, but to those of us unfortunate enough to have been lucid enough to understand what was going on in the mid 70s, everyone will remember their personal er, 'favourite'. Mine is my business.

The point is this - it's old fear. If you watch them with a clean slate, you wouldn't be affected. You'd laugh them off. This, however, you wouldn't. The sister of that Tory knob who masterfully pronounced Kevin Kline's fully made up name in 'A Fish Called Wanda' comes upstairs and....well you know the deal don't you? You watch it in 1978. You watch it in 2004. The reaction is the same, regardless of if you've seen it before. As an exercise, I tried it on someone younger. They were affected just the same way. Oh yes.

If you are are genuinely interested and have an inquiring mind, look it up...if you dare.