ROBBIE COLTRANE - COLTRANE DEFENDS CRACKER

Scottish actor ROBBIE COLTRANE has defended the latest series of CRACKER, after US critics complained the crime drama paints an unfair portrayal of Americans. Coltrane has reprised his role as forensic psychologist DOCTOR EDDIE 'FITZ' FITZGERALD in the British show after a ten year hiatus. One US critic complained, "Americans are portrayed as insensitive, racist and arrogant, or ignorant and naive. The show also implies that Americans financed the IRA (Irish Republican Army)." However, writer JIMMY MCGOVERN says, "It was about a far broader idea, which is what happens when people decide to get what they want by imposing violence on other people." Coltrane adds, "At the end of the day, we're in the entertainment business."