Departures

Next week, Mark Wright returns to his proper place as your friendly neighbourhood TV blogger and I’ll be back in the delivery room sorting the mail and watching him flinch every time someone says the name ‘Rupert Grint’. If he’s back from his holiday in time, I’m sure have some exciting things to say about Spooks, which returns to our screens this Sunday.

Having spoken about the show at length with Mark in the past, I know that, like me, he enjoys the hokiness of Spooks just as much as its political content, so I bet there’ll be more than enough of both to keep us entertained. I’ve already warned everyone around me to keep me spoiler-free, but I couldn’t help panicking when I read that the wonderful Nicola Walker is expecting a baby soon. I wish her all the best, but as a fan of hers I imagine this means she won’t be Spooking for much longer. I just pray they look after her character, the resourceful computer-brained Ruth. Keep her away from the deep-fat fryer and get her a comfy desk-job in MI6, please. Until she leaves, forgive me if I watch the screen from behind the sofa.

It must be odd working on The Grid, the dimly-lit, glass-doored office that’s the hub of Spooks. There can’t be many offices around the country where the workers aren’t plagued by collections for birthdays. Still, their local WH Smiths must do a roaring trade in ‘With deepest sympathy’ cards…

And with that, I’m off!