AFTER a promising first series last year, fast-paced police drama HolbyBlue (BBC1, 8pm) returns for an extended run.

It kicks off with a case involving the staff of Holby City - with a storyline crossing over between the sister shows for the first time.

It doesn't take long for things to start heating up. Kate Keenan (Zoe Lucker) enjoys a drink at a police event while her husband, DI John Keenan (Cal Macaninch), mingles. However, soon a handsome man spots Kate alone, and makes a move.

Surprised by his boldness, she deals with his advances with good humour, but it's obvious she's flattered and enjoyed the attention.

Little does she know she has been flirting with her husband's new boss, DCI Scott Vaughan (Oliver Milburn).

As the new day begins at the station, a heavily pregnant Inspector Jenny Black (Kacey Ainsworth) dishes out assignments to her rowdy troops, and a puzzling case awaits Keenan and the rest of the CID team: a doctor from Holby City has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Feisty registrar Jac Naylor (Rosie Marcel) is accused of attacking someone who previously assaulted her, but despite the overwhelming evidence against her, she denies any involvement.

Colleagues are called as character witnesses and DS Luke French (Richard Harrington) asks them if they think she is capable of murder.

Prepared

Lola Griffin (Sharon D Clarke) is prepared to stand up for her colleague, but others are not, and Jac's defence begins to crumble.

This promises to be another cracking series, but if you missed last year's first run and are wondering what all this fuss is about, let Jimmy Akingbola, aka PC Neil Parker, fill you in.

He says: "For me it's like a mixture of Spooks and Hustle.

"In each episode you get to know one of the regular characters which gives it a nice, strong style. It makes you really invest in the characters and care for them."

The show's high-speed mix of action, comedy and drama can really put the cast through their paces, but Jimmy takes it all in his stride.

He was born in London in 1978, honed his skills at the capital's Academy of Live and Recorded Arts and appeared in a variety of projects, including the play Blue/Orange, and Bafta and Golden Globe-winning drama Longford.

So, how would Jimmy describe his alter ego, Neil Parker?

"I'd say he's the best character in the show," he laughs. "Neil's wonderful to play. Basically he's a very ambitious young police officer. He's been doing it for six or seven years and wants to get to the top of his game.

"Neil wants to be in CID. He is good enough to be there, but sometimes he doubts himself. He has an old head on young shoulders and has had a lot of responsibility from a young age because his father passed away. He's just got his mum and his sister to look after."

With Jac's fate hanging in the balance and one of the regulars moving on in a few weeks, expect more than a few twists as this arresting saga unfolds.