THE BBC Christmas recipe: take a quartet of novels by renowned children's author Philip Pullman, apply the Beeb's always excellent recreations of Victorian settings, add Billie Piper, fresh from a popular role in Doctor Who, another children's show adults like to watch, and scatter a cast of top British thesps over the whole concoction. Serve one helping every Christmas.
And you know what? It works. This pack bundles together Ruby In the Smoke and The Shadow of the North, both enjoyable complex time-passers for families with older children to enjoy together.
There'll doubtless be a three-part box set next year, but this is a good way to catch up for now.
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