We just wanted to see a lurid tabloid headline for variety. News has broken that James Bolam is to leave 'New Tricks', and just after the nation rejoiced at the announcement of two further series. This is no exaggeration; 9 million viewers is as much as the nation unites around one telly channel these days. The prime-slot crime caper of three old timers and their lady boss notches up more viewers than the much-praised 'Downton Abbey'.
There are already pages of comments ranging from pleading by fans to the usual insults by the unpleasant. Ali would like Mr B to stay too - the show's success is in the chemistry in her opinion - but it's none of her business. It says strange things about our relationship to famous people we've never met that we feel we have the right to comment on career decisions. To say he's 'ungrateful' for leaving the show is absurd: is he not allowed to retire, take a break or work on other things? No doubt he's unperturbed at anything the Twittering classes have to say.
If the show isn't stale to watch, it's because of the cast and some sharp writing, but energy is hard to sustain over several series, and with a 56' format. Mr B has said in rare interviews that he's unsentimental about his work and it's maybe one of the qualities that's allowed him the versatility to play the likes of Terry Collier, Trevor Chaplin, Harold Shipman and Jack Ford.
RIP Jack Halford, you'll be sorely missed, but we hope to see Mr B again very soon.
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