Radio Times: Review by:; Gill Crawford

Fans have had a year to get used to the idea that Aidan Turner’s vampire Mitchell will no longer be part of the show, having been staked by his best pal George (Russell Tovey). The surviving housemates, including ghost Annie (Lenora Crichlow) and George’s girlfriend Nina (Sinead Keenan), promised the vampire “old ones” a fight, so where are we as the fourth season begins?

Twenty-five years on in a vampire-controlled future, that’s where, in an astonishing change of tone. And in the present? Young werewolf Tom (Michael Socha) is working in a café, Annie is fretful and George is hollow-eyed, following a shocking change in circumstances. And what’s this? Another supernatural trio in Southend, including a vampire called Hal…

Creator Toby Whithouse piles on the shocks thick and fast in a fast-moving opener (prepare for tears), and adds a couple of splendid guest stars: Alex Jennings as the latest head of the vampire coven, and Mark Williams as a “vampire recorder” whose motives are slightly unclear.

About this programme

1/8. The supernatural drama returns. Annie, George and Tom go back to their B&B home in Barry Island, but all is not well. Mitchell is gone, having willingly fallen victim to the wolf-shaped bullet, and the gang now has to take care of a baby, one whose werewolf heritage appears to have attracted the attention of vampire overlords known as the Old Ones. Starring Lenora Crichlow, Russell Tovey and Michael Socha, and introducing Damien Molony as Hal.