Sue Thomas: FBEye

A Snitch in Time is a one‑hour TV episode that slots into the classic British spy‑thriller vein. It stars Deanne Bray as a sharp‑tongued field agent who’s just been thrown into the deep end of a covert operation. Think “Spooks” meets a 1970s caper, with a dash of “The Saint”‑style charm, and you’ve got the basic flavour. The production leans on gritty London locations and a modest budget, but the period‑specific wardrobe gives it a proper retro feel. The story kicks off when our heroine finally makes contact with her first informant – a jittery driver who claims to know the ins and outs of a highway robbery ring that’s been hitting freight hauls for months. As the episode unfolds, we follow the agent’s attempts to verify the tip, navigate a web of double‑crosses, and set a trap without blowing her cover. There’s enough intrigue to keep you guessing, but the pacing does wobble a bit when the dialogue drags into exposition‑heavy territory. No major spoilers, but expect a tense showdown on a deserted stretch of road that feels lifted straight from a 1960s pulp novel. Honestly, it’s not a groundbreaking masterpiece, but it’s surprisingly good for a single‑episode slot. The chemistry between Bray and the informant is genuinely witty, and the practical stunts have a charmingly low‑tech feel that fans of old‑school TV will appreciate. If you’re after slick, modern espionage you’ll be left wanting, yet the modest production values give it a nostalgic, almost comforting vibe. Rated 12A – there’s some mild violence, a few gunshots and a touch of coarse language, but nothing that’ll genuinely upset younger viewers. First terrestrial showing this autumn, it slots into the broader “A Snitch in Time” series, a revival of a 1970s concept that originally aired on ITV. Grab a cuppa, settle in, and enjoy a brief dip into retro‑spy drama.