REVIEW OF FRAMED

No wonder there are so many shows devoted to people looking for their perfect home in the country. If TV is to be believed, rural villages are populated by loveable eccentrics who can't wait to give new arrivals lessons in what is important in life. That was certainly the case in Framed, where the role of the seemingly heartless Londoner was filled by Trevor Eve, who played art expert Quentin. When the National Gallery was flooded, its collection was moved to a disused Welsh mine, and Quentin went with it. You didn't have to know a lot about art to work out that those crazy villagers would discover a passion for paintings, and teach Quentin a few lessons about the true importance of art - and love. However, while it may have been obvious which way Framed was heading, it was a lot of fun getting there. The always watchable Trevor Eve gave a fine performance, as did Eve Myles as love interest Angharad. In less capable hands, Quentin may not have walked the fine line between charming straight talker and self-righteous know-all so skilfully. Yet good as they were, it was the child actors who stole the film - which was handy, as they were also busy stealing the paintings. Mari Anne Bull got many of the best lines as Minnie, who masterminded the heist and made up her own murder weapons in Cluedo because the mark of a true criminal genius is that they "think outside the box". Even if the same couldn't always be said of Framed, it had charm to spare. Plus, as the sort of Bank Holiday family entertainment we didn't think they made any more, it was a treat.