Running Scared (TV series)

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Running Scared
TV tie-in cover
Genre	Crime drama
Written by	Bernard Ashley
Directed by	Marilyn Fox
Starring	Julia Millbank Christopher Ellison Hetty Baynes James Cosmo Amarjit Dhillon Renu Setna
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	6 (list of episodes) Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox television with "list_episodes" parameter using self-link. See Infobox instructions and MOS:INFOBOXPURPOSE.
Production
Executive producer	Paul Stone
Running time	25 minutes
Production company	BBC Studios
Original release
Network	BBC1
Release	15 January (1986-01-15) – 19 February 1986 (1986-02-19)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Running Scared is a six-part British television children's drama series, transmitted between 15 January and 19 February 1986, that was based on the Bernard Ashley novel of the same name.^[1]

The series, primarily set in Forest Gate, focuses on a teenage girl, Paula Prescott (Julia Millbank), whose life is put at risk when she uncovers evidence that could put a local criminal gang leader Charlie Elkin (Christopher Ellison) behind bars. The series was filmed in and around Green Lane in Dagenham; Queen's Market in Upton Park; First Avenue in Manor Park; and The Greyhound public house in Warley, Essex. The Woolwich Ferry also features in a key scene.

The series was notable for its use of the Kate Bush single Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) being used as the main title theme, and part of the original video being re-imagined for use within the programme's title sequence. Another notable track used for the series was "Chemistry" by Brian Eno and Jon Hassell from their 1980 collaboration Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics.^[2]

Creator Ashley used the story to highlight the ever-growing Sikh community in London, which had been rarely touched upon in mainstream television up to this point. A TV-tie in version of the novel was issued a week prior to broadcast on 9 January 1986.^[3] A digitally remastered version of the series was released on DVD in Australia in 2014.^[4]