Zen receives outstanding reviews accross the board

BBC One detective drama Zen (Sundays 2 – 16th January ’11) has been received fantastically by the press:

Quotes:
TV Times 15th – 21st January 2011
“This series has been a lot of fun, so let’s hope for more…” 5*

TV Times 8th – 14th January 2011
“It’s a thrilling story, but Rufus Sewell’s light-hearted touch playing Zen really makes it.” 5*

Observer, 9th January 2011
“Even with its washed-out gritty colour, everything and everyone looked exquisitely beautiful in Zen, a lavish new detective series based on Michael Dibdin’s novels and set in Rome.”

Sunday Mirror, 9th January 2011
“This classy thriller was as gripping as it was great to look at. Bellisimo!”

Sunday Times, 9th January 2011
“Looks that are so good, they are almost ironic: a smile so winning, it makes you laugh; and the narrow but perfectly modulated performance, with just a touch of self-mockery.”

Telegraph, 9th January 2011
“One of the many strengths of the TV adaptation of Zen is that it caught the gloom of Italy as well as the glamour.”

Guardian (Guide), 8th January 2011
“A stylish cut above lesser detective dramas.”

The Times
“The tension is beautifully wound as he battles the baddies… from the retro, 007 feel of the titles to the Italian surrounds and its tinkly jazz sountrack, this oozes smooth”. Alex Hardy

Hello! 3rd January 2011
“Beautiful Italian scenery, gorgeous leading actors and riviting stories underpinned with a good dash of humour”.

The Sun (Buzz Magazine), 1st January 2011
“With it’s smooth soundtrack, retro-chic fashion and Italian scenery, we can see ourselves getting addicted very quickly.”

Times (playlist) 1st January 2011
Preview: “It’s classic old-school telly of the sort that isn’t made any more, full of adventures, narrow escapes, snarling villians, subterfuge, double dealing and romance – there’s even a car chase in the first episode – all filmed against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome and Sicily.”

Telegraph 1st January 2011
“This is a fascinating, slow-burning opener. The measured pace and simmering intrigue of Dibdin’s novels are preserved, and the actors do justice to a script containing one of the finest lines in British TV: “I woke up in my car covered in vomit and blood. Obviously, I had a feeling the evening hadn’t gone well.”

Press Previews
“The first of three superlative feature-length Aurelio Zen mysteries…this has universal appeal: beautiful Italian locations, a compelling plot, a handsome detective, and a voluptuous Italian starlet to boot… A spellbinding treat for Sunday Evenings”
The Observer

“The Detective Drama of the Year”
Sunday Telegraph

Best On The Box: “A gorgeous looking, witty crime drama based on the best-selling novels… wonderful scenery and moody, broody Rufus Sewell in the title role. Fantastico.”
Sunday Mirror

“The resplendently bewitching Caterina Murino, a Bond Girl in 2006’s Casino Royale, who once came fourth in the Miss Italy pageant – the mind boggles at the level of beauty that kept her out of the top three. Yet the other star here is the Italian lifestyle: police and criminals alike are esquisitely tailored; you can all but smell the espresso; and photogenic cigarette smoking is di rigore.”
Mail On Sunday

“Beneath the tailoring lies a twisted plot and compelling characters, not least Rufus Sewell’s enigmatic detective Aurelio Zen.”
Sunday Times

Visit Zen’s BBC page for information, trailers and interviews with Rufus Sewell.