The Great Train Robbery: the Robber’s Tale

Episode one
Chris Chibnall was always going to find his next move heavily scrutinised after penning a hit the size of ‘Broadchurch’. Happily, in collaboration with director Julian Jarrold, he’s created a piece that’s distinct while wearing its obvious influences lightly. Slick and stylised like ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’? Chirpy and geezerish like ‘The Italian Job’? Dank and moody like ‘Get Carter’?

‘The Great Train Robbery’ is all of these things, with a sizzling jazz soundtrack and, as we know, a gripping story at its heart. Luke Evans leads a fine ensemble (Neil Maskell and Martin Compston among them) as the gang’s taut, cerebral mastermind, Bruce Reynolds, plotting to rob the mail train and flip the bird to a complacent 1963 British establishment.

It doesn’t go to plan: loose cannons, leaks and malfunctioning machinery conspire to throw them off course but, even as we know the outcome, the sinuous plotting holds the attention. We leave them counting their loot, but business is about to pick up once more: Jim Broadbent arrives tomorrow at 9pm as the indefatigable copper on their case.