SAINT AND SINNER! JEAN RENO IS 'JO'

Parisian prime-crime for the investigative skills of JO (Jean Reno, far left) and his team. Image: RTBF.

In my book, the brilliant, often iconic French character actor with the world weary look, Jean Reno, has (with the very rare exception) never been as well served in English language/ Hollywood movies as he deserved. Hopefully, that disappointing situation will be rectified for the good with his starring status in the eagerly anticipated, atmospheric new TV police series drama JO, making its debut on the UK's FOX HD channel later this month.

Lots of fictional cops out there have problems, but Jo seems to have them all encapsulated into one big swaying tonic, in a way that famous crime writers would go weak at the knees in writing for. Investigating the evil behind the numerous unsettling and horrific murders that fall into his caseload tray, Joachim 'Jo' Saint-Claire is certainly no angel, either: frequently moody and bad tempered, with an in-your-face attitude to his colleagues and friends, presented in that unique way that only a Frenchman could get away with! He's also had some major dalliances with drink and drugs and, yes, he's got a wayward daughter he doesn't get on too well with either, and whom just so happens to have been conceived via a liaison with a French prostitute. In fact, all Jo needs now is a one-eyed, alcoholic dog looked after by a nosey neighbour and the entire genre watching audience is well and truly catered for!

Partnered with a younger, less embittered Detective, Bayard (Tom Austen), and taking orders (most of the time) from his bossy, sexy Irish babe Deputy Director, Dormont (Orla Brady - who seems to be in everything these days!), the series mixes its polished, distinctly continental French vibe (the location filming alone is apparently worthy of all the best travel commercials) with the detective/procedural gloss of American series, along with a dark swath of Danish dread and brutality (the show features two talented directors from the often marvellous The Killing). Hopes are high that JO will have a lengthy run transatlantic appeal, and I can't see why it shouldn't...