Parul Sharma

Birmingham-based crime drama DI Ray, created by Maya Sondhi and starring Parminder Nagra, is attracting strong praise from critics and viewers, with some claiming it surpasses Line of Duty in authenticity and realism. The series follows detective inspector Rachita Ray as she investigates organized crime while questioning whether her promotion was based on ethnicity rather than ability. Filmed at Birmingham locations including the Jewellery Quarter and Hockley Flyover, both seasons are available to stream free on ITVX.

Rich Cross, known as the 'Service Station King', shares observations from visiting all 97 official UK service stations, highlighting red flags such as overcrowding, poor customer service, messy toilets and damaged road surfaces. He identifies standout sites like Lancaster, Keele and Leicester Forest East for their unique architecture, while praising newer stations such as Leeds Skelton Lake for environmental integration. Cross emphasises variety of food brands, clean facilities, ample EV chargers and easy access as key components of an ideal service station. He also offers assessments of highly rated locations including Gloucester, Tebay, Rugby and Beaconsfield, noting their landscaping, locally sourced produce and strong charging infrastructure.