It makes me very happy that ITV's Scott and Bailey is back on our screens. If it wasn't for my love of writing and fear of institutional racism, in an alternative world I would love to work for the police. I have a freakishly good ability to remember and recall facts and I really like paperwork. But, since I don't foresee myself actually traversing that route, I do tend to get overly excited by good police TV dramas. Scott and Bailey is perhaps the best of the best.

 

Featuring essentially all-female leads in Janet Scott (Lesley Sharp), Gill Murray (Amelia Bullmore) and Rachel Bailey (Suranne Jones), the series has long been receiving outstanding reviews. I'm also going on record right now by saying if I do not have a best friend female friendship like Janet and Rachel's by the time I'm in my thirties, I will have failed terribly in life. Just saying.

 

I think that it was makes me enjoy the show so much (and is something I'm investigating later this week, when I pick apart my top TV female friendships). To be work colleagues in what we can appreciate is a challenging work environment, and be really good - if not best - friends on top of that, is what my dreams are made of. I've never really had that unmistakeable best friend status, not since I was a child and boy, do I long for it. It's also not the type of friendship that feels forced - they argue over the big things and are strong enough to tell each other how they really feel. This is something I am spectacularly bad at. Sharp and Jones (which would make just as good a title for the show, by the way) are absolutely flawless as always. I'm so happy the characters are back on positive terms and I thought the way the episode depicted the two of them going up for the same job was handled excellently.

 

We've all had moments where we've been in direct competition with friends and family. It is not a place I, personally, particular like to be. If you "win", there's always elements of doubt, fear of consequence and genuine disappointment on their behalf, as well as relief and excitement. If you "lose", you have to learn to deal with a confidence knock, jealousy and envy. We had known from the teasers and trailers that Janet and Rachel were both going for the sergeant's job and though I predicted both would pass the board, I was expecting Janet to get it. Purely because I thought she killed the interview. That was A class writing in that scene, not just for the drama itself but for the media and TV industry. Turning 50 is not when women should be gearing down and it was so good to hear that voiced out loud. I may not even had reached half way to 50 yet but once I get my feet firmly planted in my career path, I'm planning on sticking with it way past my 60s.

 

I have to admit, I do tend to favour the rebel though. In terms of temperament, I am Janet through and through but like with every drama I watch, I always lump in favour of feistiness. Something Rachel Bailey has in abundance and I lack almost completely. The wardrobe department are also hitting the nail on the head for this show; again I love the way they dress Rachel and I wish to death I could pull off work clothes that well. I think both Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones are some of Britain's best actresses and I can't wait for the rest of the series to unfurl. This Mandy Sweeting storyline is already setting up to be a good one and I'm intrigued once more to see how such career-strong women balance a life at home too.

September's arrived, bringing a definite chill in the air. I would be lying if I said I had not already fished my two onesies down from storage and said goodbye to my multiple pairs of denim shorts. Yes, summer seems to officially be over here in England (surprise, surprise) and TV seems to be following suit.

 

From chills in the air to chills down your spine, ITV's Chasing Shadows is the start of a four part drama that promises to start off September's schedule well. I'll be constructing an ep-by-ep review of this as it airs but with big names (many of whom are Doctor Who alumni) such as Noel Clarke and Alex Kingston, it's certainly one to watch. At first impressions, the lead role of Sean Stone (played by Reece Shearsmith) is acted brilliantly but is, as often seems to be the case, a little unconventional in his approach to life, death and multiple murderers. Circulating around runaways, missing persons, the police and a suicide website, it's clear Chasing Shadows will whet our appetite for mess and murder.

 

Which brings us onto ITV's other early offering in the return of Scott and Bailey. Featuring lead roles by Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp, Scott and Bailey is another police drama, but without the either obtrusive or socially awkward male protagonist (see above: case in point). I've been a fan of Scott and Bailey since the first series in 2011, so I'm particularly excited about its return next Wednesday (I actually squealed upon viewing the advert). I read a great interview with Suranne Jones courtesy of What's On TV which seems to suggest that, as always, there will be an abundance of personal drama  for all the characters, as well as the police-based drama we've come to know and love.

 

Continuing through September is the third season of Scandal, which airs here in the UK on Sky Living. Last night took us to episode 6, Icarus, which is currently buffering on Sky Go. The first five episodes have been wrought with marital and political drama and debauchery, so I'm intrigued to see how the season continues through the month. I stumbled across a few differing opinions on the third season from fans in America who are gearing up for season but as our little island doggy paddles some way behind, I'm trying to avoid all spoilers and make up my own mind. So far, so good.