Having read all the books & was expecting, if their author had anything to do with the production, characterisations close to the book, especially since they are described in detail, together with the humour and local feel for character that is amply explored in them. This production had nothing to do with that and was a poor representation of the story. Even if I had not read the books I would have been annoyed by the music drowning the speech and the central characters lifeless performance. She is much better in other things.ITV need to do better if they make further series from these books and need to involve the author, which I assume they did not do this time.

I've never actually read a Phil Rickman novel, although I have had one sitting on the shelf for years and years, but I'm a big fan of the supernatural mystery genre - slow-burning delights written by the likes of Barbara Erskine (a favourite) amongst others. I sat down to watch this ITV miniseries adaptation of one of his books to see what I was missing.Not a lot, as it transpires. MIDWINTER OF THE SPIRIT is a typically clichéd, cheap-feeling piece of ITV drama that doesn't have an original bone in its body. A cast of boring characters go through the paces in a story about a sinister conspiracy to attack the Church, but it's all so humdrum and irrelevant that you won't really care.I like Anna Maxwell Martin (TV's NORTH AND SOUTH) but her protagonist, Merrily Watkins, is dull, down-mouthed, and mean-spirited. Hardly the kind of character you can get behind and care about, then. The supporting cast includes familiar faces like Kate Dickie (PROMETHEUS) doing a boring cop routine, and David Threlfall (who constantly seems to be trying very hard to get away from his SHAMELESS character) but they're pretty much wasted. Some of the supernatural stuff, which is very limited in terms of screen time, hints at quality, but this is a far cry from stuff like BBC's APPARITIONS. Instead we get at least half the running time spent on boring mother/teenage daughter melodrama, stuff that belongs in a soap opera and not here.

Bravo ITV, I cannot remember the last time I saw a new drama from ITV that was even remotely creepy or as dark as this.Really well made, well written, it's just a shame that it only consisted of three parts, I'm not sure if there is mileage for further episodes, but let's hope it's revisited.Of the three episodes, the first part was definitely the best, very dark obviously, but well structured, the second was excellent, and the third still good, but a little off the first two.The series focuses primarily on Merilly, she focuses on actual demons and her own personal demons. Trying to bring up her 16 year old daughter single handedly after the death of her husband who'd been having an affair. The Police call in Merilly to help with a Satantic killing and a world of nasties is opened up.Really well acted, I love Anna Maxwell Martin, a great actress, ITV need to find her a top notch role after disastrously axing The Bletchley Circle. David Threlfall is always a joy to watch, as is Siobhan Finneran. Leila Mimmack is wonderful as the creepy Rowenna. Excellent production values, they looked really good, very slick, the music used was really good too, though I would agree with an earlier poster that it was a little invasive on times.Creepy as hell 10/10

What have they done to Lol, the character in the book has long black hair and is always too pale? I suppose they'll change Ethel the cat into a Staffordshire Pit Bull and Gomer Perry into a seven foot American transvestite. This is set around the lovely countryside of Herefordshire, Ludlow and all that, and ITV have almost ruined the book series which I have read from the very first. To stop any future books being spoilt I won't be watching any more of this first series, nor will I watch any future series that ITV make. Keep out of it Irene or they'll turn you into a kilted Scot, and I did want to watch Jane grow up.