The Imposter opens with Susan Kennedy staggering about on a beach, albeit in a dream, but she’s still uber hot! Giggity!
However, upon waking up and reading a news article, “Manchester woman killed in car collision”, and it’s from August 2024, it made me wonder is that how long this drama has been in the pipeline?
And why is her Oirish accent is terrible. Probably the WORST I’ve ever heard! This is clearly shot in Australia, so why change it? It even dwarfs those from Gillian Anderson in Trespasses, Maxine Peake in Say Nothing, and Pierce Brosnan doing godknowswhat in both Mobland and The Out-Laws?
And how is Kym Marsh her daughter? Well, it’s Pure & Simple, surely! Still, Kym knows two gay men who have been trying for a baby for ages, but it’s just not happening. Hmm… I can field that one. The lack of ovaries and a uterus between them may well be a factor.
But about the plot, and it’s the well-worn tale of someone coming out of the woodwork as a long-lost relative – Amanda (Marsh) – to upset the family applecart. Is she her real daughter? Or is she just trying to take over Susan’s hotel company that’s not unlike Lassiters? Or is the imposter actually Susan Kennedy’s accent? Or maybe the writer in getting the job?
Well, at one point, Susan says, “It’s the Irish in me” – What, none?!
The opening episode of a four-parter rarely does any more than just set the scene, which is what happens here, so I’ll throw in a couple of observations, the first is one of the biggest clichés in drama: hiring a complete waster to carry out a vandalism job. Yes, that will go about as well as the career of Milli Vanilli.
Also, a hotel room wouldn’t have a foldover-type latch, as shown in this episode, since if you carked it during the night and didn’t respond, they’d have to be able to get in, somehow.
There’s also one of the least convincing sex scenes, ever, since no way would they keep their underclothes on.
Still, it’s all of this that draws us in, because it’s an absolute hoot, and no-one does it better than a Channel 5 drama, as well as the occasional one from Paramount+ – since they’re now under the same umbrella – so also check out The Revenge Club on there, if you have it. If you don’t, their dramas tend to come around to C5 after a year or so.
As an aside, I will say that there’s a shot of a cinema that appeas real, and even with the cinema closed at the time, it has huge eyes and a mouth above the entrance. Even in daylight, that would scare the absolute SHIT out of me! Who designed that?!
So far, I’ve only seen the first episode, but it’s safe to say that if Amanda does nick all of her money, and given how much I hate conmen (and con-women) – like Mark Pollard, I can only hope she gets hung, drawn and butchered!!!
And finally… okay, I see Jackie Woodburne – best known for Neighbours, obvs – was actually born in Northern Ireland, but god knows what sort of accent that’s meant to be. Whatever it is, she doesn’t maintain it the whole time. I think she’s been watching Patriot Games to practice, inbetween takes!
UPDATE EPISODE 2:
UPDATE EPISODE 3:
UPDATE EPISODE 4:
Thanks to our friends and Channel 5 for the screener prior to broadcast.
The Imposter continues tomorrow on Channel 5 at 9pm, and each night until Thursday. I’ll update this review after each broadcast.
It’s not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but when it is, it will be listed on the New DVD, Blu-ray, 3D and 4K releases UK page.
If you miss it when broadcast, you can watch the each episode after broadcast on My5.
Director: Kate Kendall
Producer: Andrew Thompson
Writer/Creator: Jason Herbison
Music: Thomas Rouch, Cornel Wilczek
Cast:
Helen: Jackie Woodburne
Amanda: Kym Marsh
Simon: Don Hany
Kate: Jane Harber
Ian: Jackson Gallagher
Todd: Charlie Clausen
Lee: Kabir Singh
Corrine: Adeline Williams
Courtney: Chi Nguyen
Ryder: Blake Draper
Officer Glenn: Tane Williams Accra
Doctor Lee: Jing-Xuan Chan
Naomi: Brooke Blurton
Larry: Tim Clarke
Reg: Brett Popplewell
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.