Lynda La Plante is Britain's most successful and well known screenwriter. Attracting millions of viewers, the popular and critical success of La Plante's work is central to understanding changes that shook the UK television industry in the late twentieth century. This critical introduction, the first account of her work, focuses on three innovative serials: Widows (ITV, 1983), Prime Suspect (ITV 1991) and Trial and Retribution (ITV 1997).