Edge of Darkness

Edge of Darkness (BBC 1985) is a seminal 80s political thriller, broadcast in a time of high paranoia about the secret state and the hazards of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons proliferation. Bob Peck plays a CID detective investigating the death of his environmental activist daughter (Joanne Whalley) in mysterious circumstances. His search for the truth leads him into a murky world of conspiracy involving the nuclear industry and the CIA (Joe Don Baker in a bravura performance as CIA agent Darius Jedburgh). The series was produced by Michael Wearing and written by Troy Kennedy Martin. In addition to exploring key themes, performances and soundtrack (by Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton), John's study of the series places it in the context of the contemporary political and cultural climate, and also as part of a history of political thrillers on TV and film, from movies like Silkwood to TV dramas like the recent State of Play.

John Caughie is Professor of Film & Television Studies at the University of Glasgow. He’s the author of Television Drama (OUP 2000).