ROOM AT THE TOP, a two-part adaption of John Braine's '50s-set class-based novel, is a splendid example of what the BBC can do when they put their mind to it: that is, the creation of authentic, heartfelt and beautifully realised drama. No surprise, then, that it was hidden away on the schedules (like THE HOUR), banished to a lesser channel while the lunkheaded flagship shows (DOCTOR WHO, anyone?) are given all the money/attention.
Ostensibly, this drama is about a working class young man who struggles to make his mark in society, but in fact it's all about sex. The film concentrates on his relationships with various women, and a love triangle occupies much of the running time. Maxine Peake is the real revelation here, giving a performance so searingly honest that it seethes with a raw power. Jenna-Louise Coleman (TITANIC) doesn't get the opportunity to be more more than an ideal, and Matthew McNulty's lead character actually turns out to be a bit of a bastard, but it's Peake who makes this production shine.
