Prisoner

Are you an inexperienced prison officer, just back from maternity leave? Have you suddenly been offered overtime work that involves transporting a phenomenally dangerous criminal genius from Wales to London overnight, so he can testify against an even more lethal organised crime network that will do anything to stop him bearing witness and has tentacles everywhere? Say no! Stay at home!

But Amber (Izuka Hoyle) takes the gig and we are soon glad she did, because episode one of writer Matt Charmans new thriller is a cracker. It builds tension expertly as Amber and her jittery older colleague Joe (Steven Elder) collect their quarry from a remote secure facility: questions about the fabled prisoner, Tibor (Tahar Rahim), are answered with variations of you dont want to know.

Of course its no surprise when the journey goes wrong, but it does so in a spectacular action set piece that shows this series has a ruthless streak and an intriguingly unusual antagonist. Then cautious but stubborn Amber makes a fateful decision, and were up and running.