This is the first Stephen Greenhorn script and I can’t say I’m all that impressed. There’s some fun big ideas - involving Martha’s family and a prominent scientist defy the aging process, turning back his biological clock. Unfortunately these don’t get very far.

Firstly, Francine and Leo Jones are not given anything to do that is not incidental to the plot. I wish more was done to involve them and create more points of interaction between them.

Tish Jones is then given a rather unpleasant storyline. She finds Lazarus creepy and unattractive right up until the moment he turns into a young person, then, seemingly to get ahead in her career starts falling over herself for him. Part of the issue is that Mark Gatiss is playing Lazarus, as he is still too old for Tish and isn’t blessed with such overwhelmingly beautiful looks that would overcome a creepy, meanspirited first impression. It just doesn’t work.

This is a rare CGI mess up. The monster that Lazarus turns into doesn’t even have Mark Gatiss’ face stuck on it. It’s also been created in such a way where most talking must take place off screen.

In the most part, the performances are enjoyable. But some major elements just don’t click here.