The Smoke

with Jodie Whittaker going to be the next Doctor Who this drama is cheap on DVD at the moment.

It was heavily promoted when it was broadcast but got a mixed reaction. It is interesting but flawed.

It is too influenced by American style concentration on the lives of the characters rather than the job (fire and rescue). But it is worth a watch,good cast and interesting stories.

Read the other comments with interest.

However, I would point out, this is an entertainment programme, not a factual documentary on firefighters.

Chill and enjoy!

Programmes like The Smoke are not meant to reflect real life.

They are there purely to entertain.

I think The Smoke does entertain and not for one moment am I daft enough to think it is a true reflection of our fire service.

I guess there are those out there who believe aliens haven't come to Earth because they think Torchwood exists!!

Or does it?

Jamie Bamber gives a fantastic performance in "The Smoke," which was either a miniseries or a regular series that didn't last long.

I can tell you that firefighters loathed this show so we can assume it was highly inaccurate.

Bamber plays a firefighter, Kev, trapped in a building with a baby and told an aerial ladder is en route. It never comes - the baby dies, and Kev suffers catastrophic burns and is out of commission for a year.

His wife is played by Jodie Whittaker, the next Dr. Who, so it was heavily promoted. She loves her husband and vice versa, but due to his injuries, he can't have sex. In a graphic scene, we see what has been done to his body.

Now he's back on the job and determined to find the people responsible for the fire, which he can't stop watching on his computer.

I thought the firefighters were very unlikeable and acted like children. Very annoying.

Bamber adopted a low-class accent for the role, and he is wonderful. But I can't say I liked the series.

This series is fantastic, gripping with an underlying story running the whole way through along with different story lines each week. It is also very funny. It contains great characters and addresses many issues, abuse, relationships, racism, sexism, adoption etc. The relationships between the characters is very well portrayed and believable and I like the various situations fire fighters are required to attend rather than just showing fire after fire each week which a lot of previous shows have provided. The gritty situations particularly between Kev and ASBO are heartfelt but passionate which makes for a great central story. I will be sad when this finishes, I have loved every moment.

When I saw the trailer for 'The Smoke' it looked promising. I remember watching London's Burning as a kid and when I became a firefighter the series was just ending and not to soon as it had become very unrealistic.

So a new British firefighting drama on Sky, this must be good as Sky have produced some cracking dramas. As a serving firefighter for 13 years now I want the public to see a good representation of the UK fire service but in a drama that will win awards. The fire service has gone through a lot of monumental changes since I joined and unless you are in the job or know someone who is then I feel the general public will not appreciate what happens.

'The Smoke' so far has been a disastrous representation of the UK fire service and makes me and other firefighters angry. The procedural errors and wholly inaccurate work environment really doesn't show the UK fire service in a good light, and makes us look like a bunch of incompetent buffoons.

Firefighters of the UK Fire Service are highly trained and highly competent professionals and whom strive to serve their local communities.

Unfortunately 'The Smoke' gets a big thumbs down and is a huge disappointment, at least 'London's Burning' had the backing and technical adviser support of the London Fire Brigade.