Red Riding

There is seldom anything of interest on the television these days, let alone anything that could have been previously classified as 'event tv'. What with the range of channels available and the endless rafts of cuts in the industry this type of show is seemingly at a premium.

So when something as striking as Red Riding comes along, it deserves more than a cursory glance. The trilogy is based on a series of four books (that I have not read as yet) 1974, 1977, 1980, 1983 by author David Peace, the author of the Damned United (a book that I have read and soon to be released as a movie).

I finally finished watching the trilogy over the weekend and like many of the reviews I had seen; I was baffled, bemused and beguiled by all three episodes. It was a good watch in the context of it being a scheduled network programme - but I think it is something that may need to be watched again when it is released on dvd in the next few months. It will also be worth watching again without the blaring comparethemarket.com adverts that tried to ruin the proceedings.

On the whole despite it being intriguing and challenging it is good to see this type of programme being produced. Well done Channel 4.