Radio Times

• Episode 1/8

  Newly arrived at Holby South, DS Luke French is aghast at his boss DI Keenan's unorthodox approach to his job. But it's French himself who suggests an unconventional technique for interviewing a possessive husband who's threatened to shoot his wife. Meanwhile, new recruit Lucy Slater finds herself in danger when she tries to arrest a suspected paedophile on her own. Including a guest appearance by Casualty's Charlie Fairhead, actor Derek Thompson.

  RT Choice (Alison Graham, 8 May 2007)

  You know exactly where you are with Holby Blue. From the title onwards this is solidly familiar territory. All right, so it's about a police station and not a hospital, but connoisseurs of cop shows will find no surprises here.

• Episode 2/8

  When drugs baron Neculai Stenga attacks a prostitute, his terrified girlfriend Louise turns to old flame PC William Jackson for help. She agrees to testify against the criminal kingpin, but how effective will police protection be if Stenga is determined to see her dead? Meanwhile, John Keenan cancels a date with lawyer Rachel to have dinner with his estranged wife Kate instead. But Rachel's not about to take the rejection lying down.

• Episode 3/8

  John organises a drugs raid that should finally put Stenga behind bars. Meanwhile, Kelly and Neil find stolen goods and a quantity of money stashed in a shed. Can cash-strapped Kelly resist temptation? Back at the station, tragedy strikes when Lucy and Mac try to calm an agitated man. And as Luke and his wife Mandy look forward to a much-needed holiday, his terminally ill mother calls on him for help.

  RT Choice (Alison Graham, 22 May 2007)

  There's something about Holby Blue that makes you want to root for the villains, which is probably a first for a TV cop show. Maybe it's something to do with the macho posturing of the police officers and their maverick detective inspector who shouts all the time. Or maybe it's their manipulative and whingeing womenfolk.

  For instance, in [this] episode, planning for a crucial drugs raid is interrupted when the maverick inspector's deeply annoying, moist-eyed estranged wife throws his laundry at him in a rage. Then his deputy's wife turns up at the station, weeping. Believe me, by this stage you'll be cheering on the bad guys.

• Episode 4/8

  Stenga puts his mole at the police station in an impossible position when he demands to know Louise's whereabouts. Robert longs for excitement in his job, but when the opportunity arises to get involved in a challenging case, his conscience tells him to help out on something rather less glamorous. Meanwhile, petty thief Vinnie Dwyer is keen to strike a deal with Luke when he's caught breaking into a house.

• Episode 5/8

  Hutchinson is desperate to cover his tracks, and John unwittingly offers him the perfect way out of his predicament. Meanwhile, Jenny's husband Alex is arrested in the raids on suspected paedophiles. She stands by her man - even as the evidence against him becomes ever more compelling and Alex takes refuge in silence. Then Luke makes an awkward discovery as he searches Alex's computer for clues…

• Episode 6/8

  When an Asian woman has acid thrown in her face, John and Luke investigate. It appears to be a racially motivated attack, but as the police dig deeper, they learn there could be more to the case than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Billy gets the blame for passing information to Stenga - and Neil and Kelly find out which of them will be making the move to CID.

• Episode 7/8

  Nightclub bouncer Nico is found to be carrying crystal meth when he's arrested for assault. John and Luke press him to reveal the name of his supplier, hoping to get evidence against Stenga, but Nico clams up. John's not ready to drop his investigation though, and is shocked to see a familiar face leaving Stenga's warehouse. Meanwhile, Rachel antagonises Kate, and Luke's terminally ill mother begs him to help her commit suicide.

• Episode 8/8

  Christian spends time with an elderly lady who claims to be able to predict crimes that haven't yet been committed. Meanwhile, Hutchinson is keen to strike a deal with John - he'll provide evidence that will bring Stenga to justice, in return for immunity from prosecution himself. But when Stenga discovers he's been double-crossed, the drugs baron takes drastic action in his desperation to escape.

Go to Series two