'Wolfblood' (CBBC)

I have to say, I didn't have particularly high expectations when I heard about the latest drama offering on the CBBC channel. That's not to say the quality across the board is bad - quite the reverse! Recently you've got offerings as diverse as Young Dracula, The Sparticle Mystery, Leonardo and The Sarah Jane Adventures. But a drama with werewolves? Hasn't that been done before? And how's that going to work for a children's - well, family - show?

Actually, the line 'a drama with werewolves' sums up the show nicely - it's a drama first, werewolves second. These are just ordinary kids - our hero Maddy, loyal Tom, geeky Shannon, and new boy, outsider Rhydian - at an ordinary school, albeit in a very picturesque location, dealing with ordinary problems. But then that's wrong... because they're not werewolves, they're Wolfbloods.

Ohh yeah, I'm a fan! It was a speedy conversion; from the first episode I knew that this was a good show. Looking at the series as a whole, despite the complex nature of the wolves, it's greatest strength is how true it is. Not only does it accurately portray school life, and not shying away from having unlikeable (but ultimately harmless) classmates, but it doesn't patronise the viewer, or insult our intelligence. Like life, it's got heart and humour as well as sensitive issues. A key plotline to the show is Shannon's passion about sightings of a wild beast on the moors. And the show tackles this head on, with Maddy coming ever nearer to having her secret found out. It reaches a head surprisingly early on in the series, and as a result really feels like the character's personal struggle, rather than a weekly plotline. These characters don't forget the previous episodes. Every week they grow and develop - as do the Wolfblood side of things.

There's plenty in this series to love. All the leads are excellent finds, and make the show seem effortless. Maddy's parents are both likeable and realistic, and are deservedly main characters. The CGI - for a CBBC show, especially - is phenomenal. In fact, the show's got a real feel to it - something I initially was worried about. Children running through wild woods, backed by wonderful folky music, is its mission statement (you'll never get the theme song out of your head!) - although there are plenty of ventures into the urban setting of human life.

Above all, it's a very satisfying series - including that finale - and it certainly wouldn't be out of place in my Nineties childhood, and that's probably the highest compliment. And it has been quickly, and rightfully, recommissioned! More Wolfblood? Yes please!