TV: Edge of Darkness

Edge of Darkness

Superb conspiracy thriller with a claim to being the best drama of the 1980s.

Bob Peck starred as policeman Ronald Craven in this immensely popular series, which combined elements of murder mystery, science fiction and conspiracy thriller. Trying to understand the reasons behind his daughter Emma's murder, Craven uncovers a vast conspiracy encompassing the nuclear industry, environmental terrorism and Britain's role in the 'Star Wars' Strategic Defense Initiative. Craven is accompanied on his investigation by cryptic CIA agent Jedburgh (Joe Don Baker), as well as by visions of Emma.

His search takes him from Yorkshire to the corridors of Whitehall and on to Northmoor, a forbidding nuclear reprocessing plant. Along the way the stakes of the story raise so far as to suggest the events on screen may even be the continuation of an ages-long struggle between the forces of good and evil, while never losing sight of the core story of a father's loss.

Originally broadcast on BBC2, Edge of Darkness was met with such rapturous public and critical acclaim that a BBC1 repeat was scheduled ten days later. The series won four Baftas, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor and Best Original Television Music for its Eric Clapton/Michael Kamen score.

Affecting, intelligently plotted and utterly gripping, the series still regularly appears high in lists of the most important British television programmes.

Work nominated by pennineman.