The Invisibles, Thursday 9pm, BBC1

Posted by Jane Murphy

"I'm the best safe-cracker this country's ever had," says Maurice (Anthony Head) halfway through the first episode of new BBC comedy-drama The Invisibles. "I'm William Shakespeare, Bobby Moore and The Beatles."

Overweight and over-the-hill, Maurice and sidekick Syd (Warren Clarke) are back in their beloved homeland after several decades in exile on the Costa del Crime. "It beats Spain, dunnit?" Syd remarks, as they survey the Devon village they now call home. "I intend to have a proper cup of tea and a trip round Marks & Spencer," announces Maurice's wife Barbara (Jenny Agutter). You can almost hear 'Rule, Britannia!' playing softly in the background.

In case you hadn't guessed already, The Invisibles is a very English drama - the kind that doesn't require the viewer to think too hard, partly because doing so would enable you to see the plot twists coming a mile off. Needless to say, one-time master criminals Maurice and Syd can't quite stay away from their old line of work - which makes life far more complicated than they'd hoped.

Denzel from Only Fools and Horses shows up. Thora Hird gets a name-check. And there's the obligatory eccentric pub landlord. However, this pub landlord - played by Shameless's Dean Lennox Kelly - ends up becoming the third "Invisible" when he showcases his Matrix-style fighting skills to save Syd and Maurice from the clutches of a laughably unrealistic baddie.

Despite its seen-it-all-before plotlines and occasional tweeness, however, The Invisibles is mildly diverting and quite amusing - possibly just not as diverting and amusing as it thinks it is.

Picture: BBC

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Comments

[Ray]

don't listen to this guy , stick your tonque in cheek and enjoy it has got a lot of funny parts ,

[jo]

really enjoyed this programme, brilliant cast and storyline