Escaped POW Nick nabs his mate's girl

Colditz: Sunday & Monday, ITV1

Big, March 2005

Take one of the most stirring bits of World War Two history, chuck in a powerful love story, sign up some great young actors and you've got this explosive two-part drama.

At the beginning of the war, three British soldiers break out of a German POW camp. Jack Rose and Tom Willis are quickly recaptured and flung into the notorious Colditz prison, but Nick McGrade (Damian Lewis, above left) manages to reach Blighty. You'd think Nick, once back, would do his best to help his two brothers in arms. Instead, the lusty lieutenant decides to pinch Jack's girl, Lizzie (Sophia Myles, right)!

But Damian can see the good in his character. "McGrade is presented with the chance of happiness and he grabs it," says the actor.

Meanwhile, Jack's locked up in the harsh prison castle, hankering for freedom and his girl. He's looking for any way out and joins fellow inmates including Canadian airman Rhett -- Beverly Hills 90210's Jason Priestley -- in hatching an escape plan.

This two-part telling of the Colditz tale is inspired by real-life escape attempts. "It's a fresh take on a classic story," says producer Andy Harries.