The Night Manager, directed by Susanne Bier

This spy thriller based on a John le Carre novel offers the intriguing story of anti-hero Jonathan Pine and boasts a very strong cast. Hugh Laurie obliterates memories of House, if not quite of Blackadder, in his chillingly charming portrayal of “the worst man in the world”, billionaire arms dealer Richard Roper. Olivia Coleman is competent and appealing as mid-level intelligence officer Angela Burr, who is battling internal politics and the condescending and corrupt arseholes of MI6 to get her job done. Elizabeth Debicki is coolly graceful as femme fatale Jed and a solid support cast, including Tom Hollander and Natasha Little, never misses a beat. Who is Jonathan Pine? No-one seems to know, least of all him. Tom Hiddleston hits all the right notes as the ex-army officer turned hotel night manager. He is initially accidentally embroiled in a world of violent international criminals and later embroils himself, with encouragement from Burr, who is on a crusade against Roper. Beautifully filmed exotic locations and Pine’s weakness for women that could prove his downfall lend a touch of Bond to proceedings. The six episodes are densely packed with not a moment wasted and a constant tension that escalates to a satisfying conclusion. It is easy to see why there is buzz around Hiddleston as the next James Bond, but he has done his spy turn now and would be wasted in the role.