The Sopranos was brilliant, no argument there, and I miss it. Whether the already troubled (and, bizarrely, maligned in some quarters) Life On Mars USA will turn out to be classed in the same heady environs as The Sopranos (or even as the British original) remains to be seen. But goodness me, the US people seem to be making hard work of adapting the thing. We’ve brought you details of the strife (read about that here) and even a trailer (which is here), but now, whisper it, now production has moved to Noo Yoik things seem to be simmering down. And, excitingly, there’s been a heavyweight cast addition. Read on to find out who.

[Image: Rex Features]

One of the best things about The Sopranos (apart from Tony himself, Paulie Walnuts… actually all of it was pretty good) was Michael Imperioli’s performance as monumental f***-up Christopher. He met a sorry end, but the scenes with him trying to be movie producer were laugh-out-loud funny, and the scenes where he killed people were terrifying. He’s a good actor, that Imperioli, and it sent a shiver of excitement when I read that he’s joining the LOMUSA team as an unpolitically-correct detective, Ray Carling.

Yes, you read correctly. Super-duper Michael Imperioli is playing DCI Ray Carling. Now, Dean Andrews played Ray very well in our original, but I’m sorry, Michael Imperioli as a foul-mouthed, hard-drinking, womanising cop in Life On Mars? I’ll have a bit of that.

Go here to read some Life On Mars stuff.