DOC'S PURE DEAD BRILLIANT.

For most people, the fridge is where life's essentials are stored - like six dozen cans of beer.

But for TV's latest hero, McCallum, it has a very different use indeed.

OR RATHER... IN DEID.

You have to be deid to get in there, since he is a forensic pathologist and the McCallum fridge is temporary home to corpses which he carves up with the relish normally reserved for the Sunday joint.

Scots actor John Hannah is terrific in this new series, which begins when he is asked to do an autopsy on a friend. Well, a dead friend.

Jewish baker Alan Konrad stuns his family by announcing plans to sell up the business and go somewhere warm.

But he ends up somewhere cold... inside that fridge of Doc McCallum's. Next day, when Konrad is found dead at the foot of the stairs, it looks like a tragic accident.

Then his widow claims she tried to make it look like an accident, because he had hanged himself and the shame was too much to bear.

Poor Mrs Konrad is all cut up about the death, but not as cut up as hubby is about to be.

So what's the truth of his tragic demise? Did he choke on a brick-hard bagel? Was he battered over the head... and if so was the cosher kosher?

Wrong on all counts, as the good doctor soon discovers, treating (if that's the word) viewers to an explanation of where blood goes when someone dies, and where marks are left when a person is hanged.

Meanwhile, the mystery deepens when Konrad's partner Charlie Kelly is the next to die - and he won't be the last.

The drama is fleshed out by characters like pathologist Sir Paddy Penfold, who proves he is human by being mortal most of the time.

Mortuary attendant Bobby Sykes is dead keen on his work. And McCallum's lovely assistant Angela Maloney is dying to do naughty things with the dishy doc.

So far McCallum has not been able to swap the body for the bawdy, but it's early days yet.

And it would be pleasant to have LIVE flesh on view.

All those close-ups of grisly goings-on would turn the strongest stomach.

At gory moments I have to leave the room and pour myself a drink...

A STIFF ONE!

Taggart takes the Biscuit

Even without the powerful presence of Mark McManus, the new Taggart is registering big plus points.

James Macpherson and Blythe Duff have developed stronger personalities.

Colin McCredie is coming along as young Fraser. And as The Biscuit, Iain Anders is relishing a role which leaves him with more than crumbs to nibble on.

The story is full of religious nutters and a mad messiah, who seduces girls with the cry: "What I do now, God commands me to do."

A likely story. Talk about getting your vicars in a twist...

Steven makes a good knight of it

The new series of Ivanhoe is rip-roaring, colourful and authentic- looking.

In the role of Wilfred of Ivanhoe, Steven Waddington is every inch the Saxon good guy.

Ciaran Hinds is perfect as the stormin' Norman, Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert.

Sir Walter Scott's story is a classic, and is going to be "must" viewing on Sundays...

Especially when it's backed up by all those old, familiar musical references.

There's Joust a Song at Twilight, or You Were Maid For Me, and Do You Think I'm Saxon.

But it will lose all macho credibility if we hear one single chorus of Knights in White Satin.

Weddings that really made me weep

The Hollywood Lovers series is as compellingly deranged as any show in months.

Over-the-top weddings included the nuptials of a Jewish gay couple, and the "coupling" of 88-year-old Scotty Wolfe (married 29 times) with nearly- as-decrepit Linda Essex (wed 22 times). How do you spell YEUK?

Precisely what Amanda De Cadenet was doing on the show is a mystery.

Described as an actress, this former "wild child" (pain wean, really) had the most challenging role of her career... saying 14 words.

"What's the big woops, man? What are you getting married for? Like... the display?"

Royal Shakespeare Company, take note.

Mental Martin Clunes was a hoot on his Holiday trip to Hawaii - making merry with food, drink and hula dancers (who wouldn't?).

But why his surprise at the Rent-A-Local guide company? Lanark's had something similar for years... Rent-A-Yokel.

Golf giant Sam Torrance was a terrific choice for This Is Your Life. He's a natural star, a natural gent, and a natural funny man. His wee shows of emotion were genuine, too, not luvvy- inspired for the cameras.

Par for the course,actually

RASPS AND ROSES

RASPS this week to the writers who pen the plots for Brookside. You reckon the storylines have just gone overboard - and the script about a brother and sister having a baby went too far for many viewers.

"If you believed all this, you wouldn't think there was a normal family in the whole of Liverpool," said J. MacDonald, of Glasgow.

Roses, too, are going to a writer ... romance queen Catherine Cookson, for her excellent mini-series The Wingless Bird.

Many of you want ALL Catherine's books put on screen - if they are as good as this.

"Another gem from Catherine, always getting the period atmosphere of her stories just right," said Barbara McMahon, of East Kilbride.

Coronation Street: Jim Macdonald should invest in a new sweatshirt. He's worn the same one since joining the show. - Mrs M. Jackson, Cambuslang.

Dark Skies: No funny uniforms or space battles... just a good, earth-bound drama. - Mrs C. McKenzie, Stewarton.

Skeleton Coast: As a travelogue it's just rubbish. Benedict Allen spends all his time moaning about medical ailments. - J. Fordyce, Edinburgh.

Ballykissangel: It's the best reason yet to stay in on a Sunday night. - Cheryl- Ann Auld, Darvel.

Food And Drink: It must be made down south. You wouldn't have a hope of getting Michael Barry's exotic ingredients in most of Scotland. - John McKenzie, Oban.