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TV PREVIEWS
Collision, Monday 9pm, ITV1 
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Following in the footsteps of BBC One's Criminal Justice, this "event drama" about the fallout from a multi-vehicle pile-up will need to work hard to sustain momentum across five consecutive nights. Luckily, its creator is Anthony Horowitz of Foyle's War and Midsomer Murders fame – a man who knows exactly how to keep us glued to our seats.
The first episode sets the scene, as we eavesdrop on the lives of a series of disparate characters who apparently have nothing in common – but, as the story unfolds, they are thrown together by a horrific (and frighteningly realistic) car accident on a busy dual carriageway.
Among them are a bereaved policeman (played by the always watchable Douglas Henshall), a millionaire property developer (Paul McGann), a whistle-blowing secretary (Claire Rushbrook), a piano teacher with a guilty secret (David Bamber), a pair of bumbling brothers (Shameless star Dean Lennox Kelly and Corrie's Craig Kelly), and a demanding mother-in-law (Sylvia Sims).
Although, at first glance, the smash seems to be nothing more than a terrible accident, it soon becomes clear that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Amid the tangle of twisted metal and emotional turmoil wrought by the tragedy, are the stories of the victims and the impact of the accident on their families, friends and colleagues. And, as the terrible task of investigating the cause of the carnage begins, a series of revelations emerge: from Government cover-ups and smuggling, to disturbing secrets and murder.
Beautifully played by the stellar cast, Collision is a tense, thought-provoking tale that underlines just how fragile our lives are. We just hope we've got the stamina to see it through to the bitter end…
by Liberty Jones, Monday 9 November 2009
