The Night Caller, review: Channel 5 recruits its usual cartoon baddies and simplistic plot

The Night Caller starts off with a bang. A man is shown in the shower, trying to clean off the blood, and then looking at his bruised face in the mirror. This is why I enjoy Channel 5 dramas - they don't waste any time getting to the point. The action starts right away.

The blog features Robert Glenister as the main character, Tony, who used to work as a teacher. However, due to a past incident involving a student at a swimming pool, Tony lost his job and now works as a taxi driver at night. He expresses his frustration over losing his career after dedicating 27 years to teaching.

He feels saddened, isolated, and harboring feelings of being deceived. He doesn't have anyone close to him, so he opens up to a radio host named Lawrence during late-night shows. In his thoughts, Lawrence becomes the person he trusts the most and sees as a friend.

Just like in most dramas, Tony is about to be caught up in a series of unfortunate events. The plot is quite straightforward, and the show (spanning four episodes) has a tense atmosphere typical of Channel 5 thrillers.

The bad guys are almost like characters from a funny cartoon. You might not completely trust the scene at the pool where Tony swims alone. However, Glenister's acting is the anchor of this performance. He truly portrays the struggles of a man in his sixties who feels rejected by society as an elderly white man.

Tony has faith in Lawrence, but there seems to be a sense of insincerity about him. He claims to be just a listening ear and to promote a sense of unity among his audience. However, he is actually stirring up their complaints and amplifying their anxieties.

Sean Pertwee is the radio DJ chosen for a reason – he has a fantastic voice that stands out. His voice is well-known for narrating MasterChef: The Professionals for many years. When you hear him speak, you immediately think of him describing dishes like spiced duck breast with octopus veloute. Pertwee's tone alone is enough to make Lawrence come across as deceitful and unlikable. I'm not sure what happens to Lawrence in the end, but it would be satisfying if he gets what's coming to him.