Chris Ryan's Strike Back Is Even More Stunning On Screen

Many of you will already be familiar with Chris Ryan's action-packed books, but those of you who aren't will soon get one hell of an introduction. Sky One has adapted the ex-soldier's bestselling novel, Strike Back, into a new six-part series fronted by Spooks star Richard Armitage.

From the outset, it's clear just how much money has gone into this big-budget drama. A desert scene, which heralds a military helicopter and a convoy of armed vehicles, speaks volumes of the boldness of the project. You know immediately that what you're watching is in no way a BBC or ITV show, often stunted by financial constraints. Instead, Strike Back is a slick, polished piece of art that could easily dupe viewers into thinking they're watching a war film on the movie channel.

Also brilliant is the talent involved. The book's author, whose name is actually a pseudonym, was involved in creating the series. Meanwhile, Bafta-winning director Dan Percival (Waking the Dead) heads up the show, which has attracted appearances from some of Britain's most popular, current actors. Robin Hood star Richard Armitage leads the cast as SAS-soldier, John Porter, while his scheming boss Hugh Collinson is played by Teachers' Andrew Lincoln. And John's first mission? To rescue kidnapped journalist Katie Dartmouth (Mistresses' Orla Brady).

Armitage's character is no conventional hero. An early encounter with a young suicide bomber causes John serious emotional damage. Seven years and one divorce later, he returns to the forces a haunted man. "His passion is his downfall," the Spooks star explains in an interview with TV.com: "It's echoing through his life as a military man and it's becoming a bit of a problem."

In the first episode, John's unconventional methods mean he allows himself to be captured and tortured by terrorists. Later, in Zimbabwe, he then jumps off the side of a cliff. You'd think John has a death wish, but there's much more to the story than you initially know. We won't ruin it for you.

What we will say is that Strike Back is a turbulent, high-octane ride which is superbly written. The main characters are well-rounded, thanks in no small part to the depth of the supporting roles. Unlike other intense dramas (sorry, The Pacific, that regrettably includes you) you can relate to the minor characters just as well as the main ones, making their impact on the series that much more intense. If you don't believe us, you can catch the first episode of Chris Ryan's Strike Back on Sky1 and Sky1 HD on Wednesday, May 5, at 9pm.