Syndicate: Series 1 (DVD)

In this riveting British series, five cash-strapped supermarket employees are bracing for their store's imminent shutdown when their lottery pool wins big. It seems like a godsend - but the syndicate soon learns that good fortune can come at a high price. As the unlikely millionaires walk the tightrope between ruin and reward, the narrative follows each character in turn. Brothers Stuart (Matthew McNulty, Single-Handed) and Jamie (Matthew Lewis, Harry Potter films) are haunted by a crime of desperation, while store manager Bob (Timothy Spall, The King's Speech) faces a daunting health crisis. Reserved Leanne (Joanna Page, Love Actually) finds her past catching up with her, and kind-hearted Denise (Lorraine Bruce, Eden Lake) endures a troubled marriage. Compelling performances complement a sharp script in this taut and addictive British drama.