The Take the Runaway DVD

Double bill of TV dramas adapted from the novels of crime writer Martina Cole. 'The Take' (2009) stars Tom Hardy as Freddie Jackson, an armed robber who is released from prison in 1984 having served a four-year sentence for his crimes. His wife Jackie (Kierston Wareing), who has been waiting for him on the outside in the mistaken belief that that he wants to go straight, soon finds herself disappointed.

Freddie is in fact raring to get back into the game and has set his sights on becoming top dog in the East End underworld. Meanwhile his younger cousin Jimmy (Shaun Evans) is hot on his heels, and dreams of riding Freddie's coat-tails to rise through the ranks of the crime empire. 'The Runaway' (2010) follows the story of Cathy Connor (Joanna Vanderham) and Eamonn Docherty (Jack O'Connell), who form a strong bond growing up together in the East End of London but are later pulled apart due to difficult circumstances.

Cathy is determined not to end up like her prostitute mother, Madge (Kierston Wareing), but when she is abused whilst in care, she is forced to run away and ends up living on the streets, where she meets transvestite Desrae (Alan Cumming). During this time, Eamonn is becoming more and more involved in criminal activity.

When this leads to murder, Eammon journeys to New York where he quickly becomes a notorious villain.