I have never been afraid to go against the grain (Doctor Who fans, are you out there?!?!), so I am going to say it, loud and proud - I really like the BBC drama True Dare Kiss.
The mystery drama about four strong-willed sisters, their odd brother and dark family secrets has been attacked by critics and avoided by viewers.
Last night, part five of the Manchester drama had just 2.7 million viewers and a 13% share, down 1.7 million on its debut last month. For the modern ratings-driven Beeb, that marks it as a failure.
First and foremost, I have enjoyed the series for its uniformly excellent acting. The standout is Lorraine Ashbourne's Man U obsessed Beth. Pookie Quesnel's careerist Nita and Brendan Coyle's stoic Kaz have also been particularly strong.
Six weeks devoted to strong and interesting women - a rarity on TV today. Debbie Horsfield, who had a big success with Cutting It, wrote the drama but True Kiss Dare is a very different beast.
When I made mention of my support for it in the office, in a quiet and discreet way, the response - well, let's just say that if I had stood up to opine that Maggie Thatcher had put the great back into Great Britain I would have met with much the same reaction.
I thought the People TV critic Jon Wise was pertinent:
The Beeb's newest drama True Dare Kiss was spooky, gripping and, most importantly, original. Imagine a cleverer Afterlife (the one about the supernatural shenanigans and the medium) directed by Tim 'Charlie and the Choc Factory remake' Burton with a splash of Miss Marple. While essentially being the tale of a family more dysfunctional than the Goodys - and that's saying something - it offered suspense and intrigue.
But then this from Mail on Sunday TV critic Jaci Stephens:
BBC1 is struggling a bit at the moment too, not least with another formulaic, cliche-ridden drama, True Dare Kiss, that is as boring as it is uninventive.
And our very own Gareth McLean in the Guardian:
There can come a point in a successful TV writer's career - after a couple of well-received shows, say - when they either stop hearing constructive criticism or they stop listening to it. Judging from the self-indulgence bordering on masturbation of True Dare Kiss, Debbie Horsfield has reached that point. (See also Kay Mellor.) Her characters don't talk or behave like real people, her plot lurches from the improbable to the ridiculous, and the audience is left not intrigued by proceedings but indifferent towards them.
I mean, what is wrong with all these people? I ask them, if not True Dare Kiss, precisely what should BBC drama be producing?
