It's the 1960's and Harry Stark runs Soho. A revered gangster, with a preference for the red hot poker and a reputation for being more hands on than many of his underworld counterparts Harry is a fearsome foe but also a fiercely loyal friend. That Harry is a psychopath goes without saying, but lurking under the savagery is an educated and sensitive man, increasingly desperate to escape the brutal world he has created for himself. The Long Firm is a beautifully made and mesmerisingly performed adaptation of Jake Arnott's novel, both an intense drama and gripping thriller it ranks up there as one of the best BBC dramas of the last ten years.