Sibling rivalry: BBC and ITV go head to head with Rellik and Liar dramas written by the same brothers

Crime drama fans face a difficult decision 
Rival shows: the BBC and ITV are broadcasting two dramas written by the same brothers at the same time
ITV
Toby Earle11 September 2017

We’re used to seeing broadcasters battling for ratings by putting top shows against each other.

Think Strictly Come Dancing v The X Factor, or the BBC’s decision to move its new flagship food contest, The Big Family Cooking Showdown, when Channel 4 placed The Great British Bake Off in the same time slot.

However, the case of Rellik and Liar may be unique because both have been written and created by brothers Harry and Jack Williams, whose previous works include The Missing.

Goodness only knows how they feel about competing against themselves.

No doubt TV recorders across the nation will be set for one while their owners watch the other, because they should appeal to similar audiences – namely those who can’t get enough of gritty thrillers with an intriguing twist in the tale.

Rellik (it spells “killer” in reverse, in case you hadn’t noticed) stars Richard Dormer as disfigured Met detective Gabriel Markham, who is obsessively searching for a serial murderer.

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The unusual thing is that the tale starts with the villain’s capture, then works backwards through the investigation to the crime itself. Jodi Balfour also stars as Markham’s partner Elaine.

In Liar, Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd play single teacher Laura and widowed surgeon Andrew, father of a pupil at her school. Rumours about their relationship circulate, and they’re soon caught in a web of deceit and confusion.

Both dramas unfold over six parts; we’ll leave it to you to decide which of them to tune into first.

Rellik airs on BBC One at 9pm tonight, while Liar airs on ITV at the same time.

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