A must for fans of the work of author Martina Cole, and with plenty in the tank to entertain those who simply enjoy gritty crime drama, The Runaway is a story that pulls very few punches. Spread across six episodes, its set in the late 1960s, and follows two youngsters, Cathy and Eamonn, as theyre brought up in the East End of London.

As you might expect, things arent easy for the characters in The Runaway. Cathy is the daughter of a prostitute, while Eamonn is lured into a life of crime. Yet what bonds them together is what they both have to do when the chips are down. And one event, as is often the way, has ramifications.

The Runaway is about as far away from a glossy television thriller as its really possible to get. And theres little doubt that the programme earns that 18 certificate that adorns the box. Yet theres a strong, grown-up drama here, and its livened by some terrific performances.

The two leads, for instance, are excellent. Jack OConnell, best known from Skins, and Joanna Vanderham, who has a bright future ahead of her, take the main roles, and handle them well. Meanwhile, theres compelling work too from Keith Allen and Alan Cumming. Between them all, theres a constant compulsion to see what happens next.

The high definition upgrade afforded by the Blu-ray release is worth a look. The Runaway punches above what you might expect of television values, and while the picture is hardly bright and bubbly, the downbeat world of the drama comes across strongly in 1080p.

Itd be remiss to suggest that The Runaway breaks much in the way of new ground. But its strong drama, well made, and if you can stomach it, its well worth your time. --Jon Foster