Paula, BBC Two

Have publicists at the BBC lost their minds? Just look at this description of the company's new revenge drama Paula, which aired on Thursday 25 May on BBC Two and is available now on iPlayer: 'A thriller about Paula, a chemistry teacher whose life is turned upside down after a one-night stand with James. They become locked in a dance of destruction. Only one can survive.'

There's not much information out about why 'only one can survive' this one-night stand with this James fella, or what a dance of destruction is. Is it a euphemism for sex? Will we be witnessing destruction sex? Crumbs! It's a miracle that either of them could survive something like that.

Fortunately, there's not much the BBC publicists could do ruin this explosive revenge thriller.



Just as thrilling and traumatic a ride as Apple Tree Yard, the BBC's brilliant adaptation of Louise Doughty's sinister novel that aired in January. Both series are part of a spree of female-led dramas coming out of the corporation, which includes the equally excellent, and scary, The Replacement.

So, despite the BBC's bizarre blurb, Paula is great and highly watchable. Paula is played by Denise Gough (who has also been in Apple Tree Yard, Guerrilla and The Fall) and her handsome sort-of-boyfriend and PE teacher Philip is played by Edward MacLiam, best known for his roles in EastEnders and Holby City.

Paula's one-night stand, the mysterious James, is played by the ever-handsome Tom Hughes, who plays Prince Albert in ITV's Victoria and was the man we tipped to be the next James Bond. This is good news, we'd hate to watch ugly people in a 'dance of destruction'.

Brought to us by Olivier and Tony-award winning writer Conor McPherson, Paula is really quite good, even if the BBC manages to make it sound completely mad.

Paula airs on BBC Two, Thursday 25 May, 9pm