THERE'S nothing like a spot of devil worshipping and bare-knuckle fighting to get your attention.

And no, this is not the latest idea from the producers to liven up Celebrity Big Brother.

Waking The Dead returned with a New Year bang on BBC1 reminding us that some decent drama is far more engaging than having to spend hours watching Vernon Kay and his performing shiny suits.

Under the wonderfully curmudgeonly Trevor Eve, the mysterious cold case unit - which doesn't actually appear to report to anyone - continues to get the juciest crimes to investigate.

Poor old Frankie has gone, no doubt fed up that she was having to do everything single-handed, and now we've got Tara Fitzgerald who manages to make being a nerd attractive.

The plots are complex, far fetched and even ridiculous in places but that doesn't detract from the programme as a whole.

Mainly it's due to the tight scripting and the fact that over several series characters have been allowed to grow and develop.

Trevor Eve plays his character as though he's permanently auditioning for Grumpy Old Men and Sue Johnston is the perfect foil as she treats him like a miscreant seven-year-old.

We all seem to like a good mystery and Trevor Eve and Co are among the best at making the preposterous hugely entertaining viewing.

Now here's a challenge for them. Can they solve the mystery of why anyone is watching a second series of Soapstar Superstar?