The faces might change, but the show just keeps giving
Hustle
BBC One
Rating: 
So you don’t like Mondays – who does?
Surely Tony Jordan does … not because he’s a massive Boomtown Rats fan*, but because it’s Hustle night, the night the crafty conmen and woman he created get busy on our screens for another hour of fun. And let’s be honest, Hustle is great TV.
If you haven’t seen it, the premise is simple – four guys and a girl work as a team to rob from the rich (and greedy) and give to … well themselves.
In its sixth series, Hustle still pulls 6 million plus viewers on a Monday night at 9pm because of several factors that sadly many shows in similar slots lack.
It doesn’t take itself too seriously – you believe in the characters – but in their world – not ours. Occasional cheeky glances through the fourth wall and obviously over-egged lines at crucial moments are deliberately used to keep the show feeling fresh and fun, but not so liberally as to make it a parody of itself.
The direction is magnificent. Where others over-use camera trickery to compensate for poor acting or inadequate production values, Hustle spins you round when you want to be spun, zooms you in when you need to see, and fades you out when you’re still eager for more. In short it gets things right.
The acting’s good – hey in some cases it’s great. Robert “Man from UNCLE” Vaughan, Adrian Lester and Robert Glenister effortlessly tread the line between high camp and allowing the show to become serious. However, even the newcomers hold their own in the shape of Deano Wickes from Eastenders and sexy con-lady Emma Kennedy (portrayed by the fittingly beautiful Kelly Adams).
Its not easy to change significant members of the cast and still keep a show afloat – but just as The Sugababes continue as a going concern in the pop world with none of their original members – Hustle took the loss of some of its original cast on the chin and has gone from strength to strength.
It’s just complicated enough for clever people to stay interested – and not too complicated for stupid people to switch off. The plots are fun, interesting but not by any means impenetrable – they keep you guessing until the end – and there is always a twist – and everyone loves a twist.
All in all, former barrow-boy turned Eastenders supremo, Mr Jordan, has done pretty damned well. Keep up the good work.
* he might be
Absolutely agree. But how depressing that it is just a 6 episode run. Surely they could get a few more in. Just as your getting used to at least one evening that provides decent tv viewing, it gets take away and replaced with ‘cops and robbers’!