Every so often, a series comes along that stops us in our tracks and the latest is Channel 4's Maya. The unmissable new psychological thriller comes from the producers of Fleabag and The Tourist and covers two compelling themes: the intense world of witness protection and the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter.
Anna (played by Daisy Haggard, who's also the creator) and her teenage daughter, Maya (Bella Ramsey), are forced to enter witness protection to escape a life-threatening danger. And while it should mean they're safe, the two hitmen intent on tracking them down will do anything to ensure they're far from it.
While we patiently wait for Maya to arrive on our screens later this year, here's everything you need to know about the upcoming series, including the plot, cast and release date.
What is Maya about?
The six-part series follows the story of Anna (Daisy Haggard) and her teenage daughter Maya (Bella Ramsey), who are forced to enter witness protection after a dangerous threat looms over them. Relocating to a small rural town and assuming new identities, the pair try to adjust to their new life.
The official synopsis continues: "As they try to adjust to their new reality, the trauma of their past continues to haunt them and the sinister presence of two hitmen leaves a trail of unease as they search for the missing mother and daughter. As the walls close in on them it becomes clear that the dangerous figure from their past is still a looming threat."
With the series created, written and co-directed by Daisy Haggard (Breeders, Back to Life), the drama promises to blend tension with warmth and humour, while offering a powerful exploration of identity, and the lengths a parent will go to protect their child.
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Ollie Madden, director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, said: “Daisy’s pilot script for Maya had us laughing out loud with its uniquely British take on parenting and the oddities of witness protection schemes - whilst simultaneously being utterly gripping in its no-holds barred thriller storytelling. We are huge fans of both Daisy and the first-rate team at Two Brothers and can’t wait to see this compelling series come to life in their hands.”
Who's in the cast of Maya?
The cast of Maya includes:
- Daisy Haggard (Boat Story, Back to Life)
- Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us, Time)
- Tobias Menzies (F1, The Crown)
- Ben Chaplin (September 5, The Dig)
- Raphel Famotibe (The Night Manager)
- Josie Walker (Kneecap, Andor)
- Harriet Walter (Succession, Ted Lasso)
- Stuart Bowman (Dept. Q, Rebus)
- Tom Courtenay (Quartet, 45 Years)
- Kiran Sonia Sawar (Slow Horses, True Love)
- Serena Manteghi (The Diplomat, Mrs Wilson)
- Archie Backhouse (Strategic Love Play, Farm Hall)
- Paul Blair (Outpost, Outlaw King)
- Sonny Poon Tip (Industry, Andor)
- Finlay Shack (Dept Q)
- Max Fincham (The Tower, The Witness)
- Ash Hunter (Bridgerton, Harlots)
- Harry Hadden-Paton (Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale)
- Tori Allen-Martin (Here We Go)
- Isabele Derosa (The Bombing of Pan Am 103)
How can I watch Maya?
While Channel 4 hasn't shared an exact release date for Maya, we do know that it will arrive on our screens at some point this autumn. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we'll update you here.
