HEARTS may beat just a little faster among female viewers this Sunday night.
Scots actor Joe McFadden makes quite an impact in his opening scenes as Heartbeat’s new Pc Joe Mason.
There’s a touch of Z Cars meets The Sweeney near Bettys Tea Rooms as our Joe chases a gang of armed robbers in York.
He ends up on temporary secondment to Aidensfield.
“Seems a confident sort, dun’t he,” observes Pc Geoff Younger, played by Steven Blakeley, an actor who will surely never go short of work.
Will Pc Joe forget all about his impending transfer to London and stay in this rural backwater?
Well, what do you think?

VIEWERS across the globe protested when the BBC announced The Inspector Lynley Mysteries were being axed.
Nathaniel Parker, who played Tommy Lynley, was puzzled by the decision.
As was co-star Sharon Small (Det Sgt Barbara Havers).
Along with other journalists, I spoke to Sharon last night at the launch of a terrific new BBC1 drama series called Mistresses.
Don’t let the title put you off.
It’s a great piece of storytelling, which also features Sarah Parish, Orla Brady and Shelley Conn.
Due on screen early next year, Sharon plays Trudi, a 9/11 widow struggling to move on.
More of that another day.
Naturally, we asked Sharon about the end of Inspector Lynley after six series.

THERE was a chill wind blowing around the Imperial War Museum in London this morning.
Inside, the media gathered to watch a screening of My Boy Jack, a moving film to be screened on ITV1 this Remembrance Sunday.
It’s the story of Rudyard Kipling and his son who was killed during World War One – on the day after his 18th birthday.
Jack is played by Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, which explained the high turnout first thing on a Monday.
There’s a feature on Daniel and the drama – which comes highly recommended – in tomorrow’s MEN.
Tue Nov 6 update: The online version of the feature is here.
As you might imagine, there was a lot to discuss about the film.
But some of the tabloids were also fishing for a line on Daniel.
His screen mother is played by Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall.
Had he seen the series?

THERE is no such thing as a day off in this game.
Take yesterday – Friday.
I even booked it as a day’s holiday, just to catch up on exciting things like a haircut and going to Tesco.
The TV world had other ideas.
News broke late on Thursday night, confirming that Richard and Judy were quitting their teatime C4 show.
There was also a news story on The X Factor’s Raquelle Gracie to write after our weekly chat on Thursday.
And a TV feature to file for Monday’s MEN about the return of BBC1’s The Street.
By early afternoon, the delights of Tesco’s checkouts appeared within grasp.
Then came word from The X Factor press office that Emily Nakanda had “withdrawn” over that “Happy Slap” incident.
Despite the form of words agreed with Emily, 15, and her family, it’s pretty clear that she was sacked from the show.
And quite right too.

NO-ONE was sure if Simon Cowell had ever sported quite such a huge grin.
The teeth were certainly sparkling after The X Factor was named Most Popular Talent Show.
With no hint of irony after recent phone-in scandals, viewers were asked to vote for this category while last night’s National TV Awards were on air.
“Being kept waiting, being judged, it was like being a contestant,” Simon said in the press room later.
“I didn’t like it.
“I’m really happy – I was really, really nervous.
“Just the idea of someone else winning it.”
Asked if he was now confident that every X Factor vote this year would be counted, he replied: “Yeah, very much so.

A dazzling evening at one of TV’s big nights of the year.
That was mainly down to the blizzard of camera flashes in the backstage press room.
“I can’t see now,” protested Corrie’s Kym Ryder, as she faced the massed ranks of photographers.
The actress, who plays Rovers barmaid Michelle Connor, was beaming after being voted Most Popular Newcomer.
And she had to beam a whole lot more after coming off stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
No wonder she turned away from the snapper in this pic.
It works like this:
Star wins an award. Star is escorted to the press room, along with the person who handed over their gong.
Star then climbs on small stage while grown men standing on chairs attempt to break the world record for most pictures taken in 60 seconds.
Snappers try to extend the ordeal by flashlight for as long as possible.

HOLDING an awards ceremony on Halloween always risks a few nightmares.
So will it be trick or treat for the millions watching the National Television Awards, live on ITV1 from 8.30pm tonight?
I’ll be backstage at London’s Royal Albert Hall, reporting on the winners as they come off stage to talk to the media in the press room.
Aside from special awards on the night, the NTAs are decided by a public vote.
You also have to realise that each award is for “Most Popular” and not “Best”.
Even so, the way the voting is organised can lead to serious omissions from the nominations’ shortlist.
It can also lead to a few seemingly surprising results on the night.
Take tonight’s Most Popular Actor category.
David Tennant (Doctor Who), Antony Cotton (Coronation Street), Charlie Clements (EastEnders) and James Sutton (Hollyoaks) are the four contenders.

THERE are some things you feel you should know about certain TV stars.
But doing my research before a recent interview with Carol Vorderman, I was surprised to learn she was a Manchester United fan.
“It dates back to the 1960s,” she told me when I asked about her lifelong support.
“And in the sixties, if you were Catholic and from the north west, you either supported Everton or Man Utd.”
Carol went to primary school in north Wales.
“On a Monday morning at assembly we used to do bidding prayers:
“Thank you Father for letting my mum and dad be all right.
“And thank you God for letting Manchester United beat, whoever it was, three nil on Saturday.
“It was compulsory.”