Without a Trace (Ch4)

The New Joe Millionaire (Ch4)

ANOTHER classy cop show from Channel 4 - no prizes for guessing it's American.

It follows the unbelievably gorgeous members of the FBI's missing persons unit as they try to trace the last movements of people who have vanished without a trace.

The team is led by Jack Malone - a cool customer brilliantly played by the sexy Anthony LaPaglia. He knows exactly what to do in every situation while still finding time to smoulder at the camera.

In this first episode of the new series a school bus vanished - full of children. There were numerous leads to be followed up and in the style of all good thrillers we were dragged up a load of blind alleys in the search.

The ideas behind this show may not be very original but the Americans know how to make a seen-before storyline look exciting.

A great script and a fantastic cast made this the first of a must-see series. Add to that some fantastic shots of the most amazing city in the world (I really do love New York) and you are onto a winner.

This had the same class as a blockbuster movie - something our cop shows never get close to. Proof that 'gritty' and 'realism' do not have to mean 'depressing' and 'ugly.'

Talking of depressing - The Next Joe Millionaire managed to show us the worst sides of human nature with its grand finale.

This reality TV show sets a group of women against each other to fight for the attention of a millionaire, David. He whittles the girls down until there is just one left before admitting he is actually penniless but asks his chosen one to stay around.

Yesterday we saw heartbroken Cat given the news that despite being 'blessed' she wasn't the one for David (who is really a rodeo cowboy).

She looked stunned and then proceeded to bitch about her rival Linda claiming she didn't love the cowboy as much as she did (love? they have only known him a few weeks!).

But there was another twist. Unlike like the first series where the winner fell into Joe's arms despite him admitting he was skint, Linda looked horrified. She left to think about the situation and then rejected his attempts at a romantic reunion.

But wait... this is trash TV and we have to have a happy ending.

Back at the ranch David was given a letter from Linda saying she couldn't cope with being lied to and that was why she left - nothing to do with his riches to rags story then? But it was all a clever ruse and Linda was waiting for him inside - admitting she'd made a terrible mistake (probably realised her five minutes of fame were up).

Then in the final twist she was presented with a hefty cheque for her trouble (at last her eyes lit up with true love) and David was given the ranch as a present from the programme makers. Call me a cynic but I bet the lovely couple are no longer an item.

l Steve Pratt is awa