TV Blog: This is England '86

It’s with some pleasure that I witnessed the death throws of Big Brother this month – not least because the end of the reality giant has freed up significant money for Channel 4 to invest in more home grown dramas. The first and most high profile of these is Shane Meadows' This is England ’86 (Channel 4, Tuesdays 10pm) – the follow up to his seminal film of (almost) the same name and the writer-director’s first foray into the world of TV.

While the film explored the co-option of a once ethnically inclusive skinhead culture by far right racist groups in the1980s, this four part drama (co-scripted with Skins legend Jack Thorne) picks up the central characters three years on as they try to make their way in the adult world with their past hanging over them. As in the film, a warm extended surrogate family lies at the heart of the story and it’s this sense of belonging that is the series greatest strength, coupled with a growing sense of unease as the Nazi thug who tore their world apart lurks in the shadows.

A slow burner, episode one takes its time in re-establishing the world and updating us on where everyone is at. As with real families there is a slight awkwardness in readjusting to seeing loved ones after a few years apart but this soon passes as Meadow's naturalistic dialogue and the cast's easy banter kick into gear. The episodic nature of television as opposed to film means that much of the drama is being held back, allowing us to get bedded in but it's nice to be able to enjoy the fun of the period before things start getting messy.

Those unfamiliar with the source material may struggle to keep up, but so far the series is shaping up to be a fitting sequel to one of the most important British films of the last ten years and speaks volumes for the quality of current TV drama that the small screen was able to lure someone of Meadows' pedigree. Essential viewing.

You can catch up with This is England '86 at 4od or at www.channel4.com/explore/this-is-england-86.