She's the queen of unforgettable roles, so of course Sheridan Smith has another one up her sleeve. The I Fought the Law star is set to star in the BBC's newest crime drama The Cage, and according to insiders, it's her most entertaining series yet. The new series, which is arriving on our screens next week, is from the makers of Normal People (based on the Sally Rooney romance novel of the same name) and is set in the within the drama-filled world of a Liverpool Casino.
Sheridan will play Leanne, who discovers that she and her colleague Matty (Michael Socha) are both robbing from the safe at the casino they work in. And when they do, things take quite the turn. The series has been written and created by BAFTA nominee Tony Schumacher who says he's hoping viewers will find it "funny, dark, but most of all full of love, life and entertainment.”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, says: “The Cage is character-driven, hugely entertaining and full of heart, and I’m delighted that Tony has chosen the BBC to be the home of his second series following on from the success of The Responder. With Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha leading the cast, Al Mackay directing and the team at Element Pictures producing, viewers are in for a treat.”
While we patiently wait for The Cage to arrive on our screens, here's everything you need to know about Sheridan Smith's next drama, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is The Cage about?
The five-part drama follows two characters, Leanne and Matty, and is set in an inner-city casino in Liverpool. When the pair discover they're robbing from the safe at the casino where they work, their lives are set on a collision course; with each other, the local gangster they're stealing from, and the police.
Christopher Aird and Hilary Martin, Element Pictures and Fremantle executive producers, have said of the series: “We’re excited to be producing Tony’s unique drama for the BBC. Tony writes characters from the heart that break your heart, and we’re thrilled Sheridan and Michael are going to be playing Leanne and Matty. The Cage is a crime show, a show about family and a love story of sorts. It is by turns funny, poignant, thrilling, and sad; we know Al Mackay will bring his love of real-world characters to tell Tony’s story with verve and energy.”
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Who's in the cast of The Cage?
Joining the pair in the cast are:
- Sheridan Smith as Leanne
- Michael Socha as Matty
- Barry Sloane (House of the Dragon) as Gary
- Geraldine James (Dope Girls) as Nancy
- Anton Bibby as Thomas
- Freya Jones as Emily
- Sophie Mensah (Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale) as Fen
- Abby Mavers (Waterloo Road) as Kelly
- Shaun Mason (Extraordinary) as Alan
- Louis Emerick (The Power of Parker) as Paul
- Ian Puleston Davies (Tin Star) as Vincent
- Julia Papp (Baptiste) as Irina
- Katy Carmichael (Malpractice) as DCI Hannigan
- Dave Hart (The Responder) as Danny
- Eileen O’Brien (Not Going Out) as Nanna
- Eithne Browne (The Responder) as Annie
- Mona Goodwin (Extraordinary) as Trace
Is there a trailer for The Cage?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for The Cage below.
How can I watch The Cage?
The Cage will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 26th April and will air weekly at 9pm on BBC One.
