DVD Reviews

Tinker, Tailor/Smiley's People DVD boxset 
As you'd expect from a famous old spy tale, appearances are deceptive here. Watch the opening episode of Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy and it seems very dated at first. The pace is slow, the actors old, and the story and settings dingy. By episode two, the jolt of watching a series from 30 years ago passes and the strengths of this acclaimed production will get their hooks into most viewers. 

Garrow's Law DVD boxset series 1 & 2
As series three of Garrow's Law comes to a finish on BBC1 – following a very emotional episode three in which Alun Armstrong's solicitor John Southouse died – along comes the boxset featuring the complete series one and two.

Luther DVD boxset series 1 & 2
When the Beeb went to novelist Neil Cross to commission a new police drama they apparently asked for an 'iconic character', like ITV's Morse. Cross dreamed up a detective who symbolised the maverick as out-of-control avenger in Luther.

The Persuaders Blu-ray
People of a certain age become misty-eyed over The Persuaders!, recalling how the family settled down round the box on Sunday evenings just as John Barry's superb theme music began.

Regan starring John Thaw on Blu-ray.
Forget Gene Hunt and Life and Mars. If you want the original bad copper in no-nonsense flares you should track down Regan, the 1974 pilot for The Sweeney starring John Thaw, which is being released on Blu-ray.