Wit, warmth, sharply and lovingly drawn characters - it's probably too late to catch up from the start of the Manchester soap, but fans reckon it's as rich as ever.

But such verisimilitude can prove a hindrance to dynamic storytelling, especially when nothing seems to be at stake in these lovingly drawn particulars.

The novel is rich in lovingly drawn grotesques.

The result is a "thoughtful, lovingly drawn meditation," Caroline Knapp wrote here last year.

From behind the lovingly drawn self-portrait of a numbingly earnest guy there has emerged another portrait, of a pragmatic, efficient guy willing to do whatever it takes to build up his political and financial base for 2000.

You guessed it - garish, lovingly drawn, heavy bombers pound the enemy into purple, yellow and pink puffs of smoke.

Ms. Walker's tale is a personal one and her portrayal of Mr. Sweet and their tender friendship is lovingly drawn.

Glashan's style already seems fully formed: little bearded men (by themselves, in small groups, or even in their thousands) are rendered even smaller by lovingly drawn but oppressive neo-renaissance or rococo backdrops.

And Ms. Smith-Cameron and Mr. Quaid create inspired, lovingly drawn cartoons as plain folks whose very purity makes them targets.

But does he desire a fish instead of these lovingly drawn desserts?