Morrissey and Smith’s bittersweet romance brightens up Monday night on BBC1

I know what it’s like to get up every morning and go to work, knowing in my soul that it was the last place I wanted to be. Not that I’m alone – millions of people do the same thing. Get up. Go to work. Come home. Then, without realising it, 10 years will pass in the blink of an eye and before we know it, we’re old. Old, grey and tired.

In 2013, James and I decided enough was enough. We quit the jobs that had pushed us to the brink of divorce and started doing what we really wanted to do – writing for a living. Since then, we’ve struggled financially (possibly the understatement of the century), but – and this is the important bit – instead of feeling old and beaten and tired, we’re alive. Stressed to the eyeballs for sure and no doubt that’s not going to get any easier until regular work comes our way, but somehow, weirdly, we feel better. Go figure.

Watching the first few moments of new two-part drama The 7.39 was a bit of a revelation for me. Seeing David Morrissey, the brooding, sexy actor who once shagged Sharon Stone in that dirty bit of nonsense Basic Instinct 2, playing a whey-faced, married man whose life had all the quality of stale bread, reminded me why James and I bit the bullet and struck out on our own in the first place.

Morrissey plays Carl, a property developer who is left exhausted by his long train commute from London to the sticks. But all that changes one morning when his seat is snaffled by gym worker Sally (played by the lovely Sheridan Smith). She’s engaged, but far from happily, and so when Carl makes a point of apologising for his rude behaviour, the pair strike up a tentative friendship.

Watching their relationship unfold and evolve into something deeper, more dangerous, is – in my humble opinion – one of the best bits of telly I’ve seen in a long time. Achingly poignant, bittersweet and desperate, Carl and Sally’s story is beautifully played out, and it’s all down to the fantastic pairing of Morrissey and Smith. Seeing the years fall from him as his character rediscovers in the vivacious but troubled Sally a reason for breathing is just gorgeous and definitely NOT to be missed.

If The 7.39 has a flaw, it’s that there are only two parts to enjoy – though drawing out this nuanced, emotional story would be a crime. I pounced on the concluding episode as soon as the credits started to roll on the first, and found myself utterly captivated as the drama grew even more complex.

Like real life, which is messy and complicated and hard and scary, this drama demonstrated very neatly that the difference between the wanting and the having can be vast. Take it from one who knows…

THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN OF IT

WHAT’S IT CALLED?

The 7.39

WHEN IS IT ON?

9pm, Monday, January 6th

WHAT CHANNEL?

BBC1

WHO IS IN IT?

David Morrissey, Sheridan Smith, Sean Maguire and Olivia Colman.

WHO SHOULD WATCH IT?

Romantics and dreamers and anyone who has ever thought more than once about chucking it all in and escaping…

WHO SHOULDN’T WATCH IT?

Cynics and the cold-hearted.