Fake or Fortune?

FOR a team dedicated to unearthing fakes in the art world, the language used by the two presenters here is decidedly overblown.

FOR a team dedicated to unearthing fakes in the art world, the language used by the two presenters here - journalist Fiona Bruce and art dealer Philip Mould - is decidedly overblown.

 ‘‘The art world: glamour wealth, intrigue . . . ,’’ Bruce begins.

‘‘But beneath the surface there’s a darker place, a world of high stakes and gambles.’’ Mould, meanwhile, sees himself as TV-detective material. ‘‘Paint always acts like blood at a crime scene,’’ he says, scraping a little of it off.

They even do the walk together to camera before the choir in the symphonic soundtrack swells to an operatic climax. Good grief, what is this? The X-Files? Fortunately, when the overlong blood-orange opening sequence finally subsides, the two rather effectively get down to business, shedding their opening montage personas like snakeskins.

8.30pm, ABC1