Perhaps a growled “fuck off” is first on the accent coach’s to-do list. The show’s infamously wandering Birmingham accents tend to stand their ground a little better in two situations: conveying menace, and barking swearwords. “Vengeance is forthcoming, and long overdue,” she droned, over the ominous sound of a tragic cello.

I enjoyed Mrs Ross’s incompetent but Tarantino-esque approach to wreaking revenge on her son’s killer. Arthur scrubbed off the red paint and turned to God, but he still found himself answering to the vengeance of a grieving mother, who set the gang up for the Italians to pick off, though not quite in the way they had anticipated. This was a masterclass in criss-crossed wrong-footings and gameplay.

I don’t think she can, but more on that later. And last week’s ultimate betrayal made me gasp out loud: could Polly really do such a thing to Tommy, even when the stakes are so high? It’s so bombastic and showy and recklessly fun. But four episodes in and I’m onboard with the Shelbys to such an extent that I now understand the man who got the cast of the show tattooed over his entire back. There is no spoon-feeding of previous plot entanglements, and not much in the way of exposition, so newcomers have to keep their wits about them. Not only is this series providing one of the most exquisitely daft and thrilling hours of the TV week, but it’s now given me three previous series to catch up on over Christmas. But what a treat to have jumped into Peaky Blinders, even at this late stage.

But there simply isn’t enough time to watch all of them, and sometimes the big guns fall through the cracks: The West Wing is never going to happen for me – too many seasons, too much commitment.

When you write about television for a living – please feel free to join my entire family in wondering how that’s a proper job in any way – you end up watching an awful lot of programmes. I know this is a bit like discovering a great new singer, telling everyone about it, then realising it’s Adele, but I’ve discovered this great new show you really all should watch, and it’s Peaky Blinders (BBC2).

Tom hardy peaky blinders season 4