Midwinter Of The Spirit

This is something a little out of the ordinary- a TV show that takes its metaphysics seriously. The hero is a vicar- and this really is a novelty- not a funny vicar but a weary professional- as jaded and cynical as any detective inspector or private eye. She's the diocesan exorcist- newly trained and palpably unconfident- and she's up against evil- not funny, camp evil- all horns and cackle and dry ice- but the real thing- invasive, corrupting, soul-destoying.  Again, we're in Herefordshire- Englands least populated county. When did you last see a TV show set in Herefordshire?  I should imagine never.

Anna Maxwell-Martin is the vicar, David Threlfall is her mentor; that's class. Herefordshire is lorn and beautiful and the spooky horrors are joltingly presented. The source is a series of books by Phil Rickman. He's written 12 and there's another on the way. If the show catches on it could run for years.