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Any regular reader of this site will know that I’m a big fan of zombies. Even if you’re not a reader, the blog’s name might ring some bells if you’re a fan of Romero’s zombie trilogy - or more accurately his zombie quintet/quintilogy. It should come as no surprise that I was massively enthusiastic about Charlie Brooker’s new zombies meet Big Brother TV show: Dead Set.

And having watched the first hour on E4 last night, I’m still enthused. The show had a great opening. It might work better without adverts, in full two and a half hour movie format, but it’s already managed to push the envelope for televisual horror and gore.

What’s most pleasing about the show is that it’s not a “look how bloody clever I am” satire. I love Romero to bits, but being subtle isn’t one of his strengths. Thankfully Dead Set managed to avoid such heavy handed imagery and subtext for most of its initial 45 minutes. What it didn’t avoid were two things nicked from 28 Days Later: fast moving zombies and an accompanying erratic bit of camera work. For fans of zombie cinema the creatures themselves were probably nothing new, but the format certainly was.

As much as the show isn’t heavily a satire, it’s probably not really a comedy either. Anyone expecting Shaun of the Dead cuteness will be disappointed. There are darkly funny moments - is it bad that I laughed during the wheelchair zombie scene? - but on the whole the mood has so far been serious.

Performance-wise special mentions have to go to two people: Jaime Winstone for a convincing, and thankfully likeable, strong central character, and Davina McCall for a bloody brilliant zombie performance. Hopefully there’ll be more zombie Davina in tonight’s second episode.

I’ll try to keep posting about Dead Set as the series progresses. Andy Nyman - who plays Patrick the mustachioed producer - is presenting an on-set diary at FrightFest this weekend too, so I’ll be mentioned that, in addition to all the other films shown at this year’s all-nighter, next week.

One other thing: See if tonight’s episode drops any horror movie names into the script. Episode one contained both “Manchester Morgue” and “Ginger Snaps”. There may have been more. I suspect episode two will do the same.