User reviews

This is what British drama - good British drama - is all about: fine performances (not just a big name dragging a bunch of good-lookers), effective direction, an unbeatable, realistic script and effects that don't take over from actions.

Jennifer Ehle was excellent as the enigmatic Melissa in the title role, Julie Walters - as ever - turns out a stirring performance, and Diana Weston's drunken Hope brings a smile to the face with those Shirley Bassey impersonations.

Something of a gentle thriller, and something that will definitely keep you guessing until the end.

This was an engaging and enthralling mystery series, with many unexpected developments along the way. Jennifer Ehle was excellent in the title role, and provided the program with a lot of momentum. The entire cast was good, with perhaps the exception of Adrian Dunbar, and the material that they had to work with was first class. Anyone looking for a screen adaptation of the novel will be disappointed, as Alan Beasdale has taken major liberties with his source material - but in my opinion, his version is better than the original. A worthwhile experience - hang in for the whole of the series for an enjoyable time!

Sadly although there is a first class pool of talent they are wasted in this long winded boring trash. It could easily have been condenced into one 45 minute episode. Six episodes is just silly, the dialogues and writing are what a six former would have produced, and I am probably maligning the six former. I haven't read the book and it may well be a good read but the drama written for this mini series is woeful and good luck to those who manged to watch the whole without falling asleep. For myself I would recommend watching ants crawl up a wall or paint drying as a more intellectual exercise rather that this supposed entertainment.

Melissa was fantastic. Not because of Bleasdale's production - In fact compared to G.B.H and Jakes Progress it was rather disappointing. But because of performances from Jennifer Ehle, Julie Walter and the marvellous and incredibly underestimated Diana Weston it shone like a shining star.