Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey, this Dunbar drama is dull

It's honestly difficult to watch Adrian Dunbar in his latest role as retired copper Alex Ridley without expecting him to say "Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey".

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It was one of the best lines that Dunbar's previous incarnation Ted Hastings delivered in Line of Duty, along with the occasional "Mother of God" and, memorably, "now we're sucking diesel".

So it's confusing when Dunbar returns to our screens as a police consultant in Ridley and doesn't pepper the script with such nuggets of wisdom.

It's difficult to remember he's no longer focused on catching bent coppers but is instead chasing bent, well, bad guys.

It's important not to blink during the first couple of minutes as that's where most of the action seems to be.

One minute he's walking through a field of sheep like an extra from The Banshees of Inisherin, the next he's opening his heart to Josie from Brookside (his therapist) then all of a sudden there's a violent armed robbery taking place at a jeweller's shop in town where some moped-riding thugs run amok and drive off with a load of bling.

However, if you think this action-packed opening sets the tone for the rest of the show, think again. In terms of action that's pretty much it until one of the robbers is fatally squashed in a hit and run.