There are some actresses that feel like they were practically made for a role and Sarah Lancashire is a case in point. In 2018, the Last Tango in Halifax star stepped into the shoes of a social worker facing a nightmare situation in Channel 4's Kiri and it remains one of her best ever performances. Now, the series, which scores an easy 5/5 rating, is available to stream and, if you want to see Sarah at her finest, we'd recommend watching it tonight.
The fictional - yet deeply moving - drama stars Sarah as Miriam Grayson who finds herself in a horrifying situation when a young black girl, Kiri, is abducted just before her adoption is expected to take place. The situation is made all the more complex by the fact that Kiri disappeared on an unsupervised visit to her biological grandparents - and the visit was arranged by Miriam herself.
If you’re looking for a genuinely compelling series with superb acting, Kiri is well worth your time. So, before you tune in, here’s everything you need to know about the series, including the full plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Kiri about?
The fictional four-part drama comes from writer Jack Thorne, who you’ll know best as the man behind Adolescence and Lord of the Flies. Over the course of four episodes, the series examines the abduction and death of a young black girl, named Kiri, who, prior to her disappearance, is due to be adopted by her white foster family.
Sarah Lancashire plays Miriam Grayson, an experienced, no-nonsense social worker who’s deeply passionate about her job, but also has an instinctive approach to protecting the children in her care. Before her adoption goes through, Miriam arranges for Kiri to have an unsupervised visit with her biological grandparents. But when Kiri disappears during the visit – having been abducted by her birth father – blame from the police, the press, and even her colleagues, is directed at Miriam.
It’s an emotional, thought-provoking watch as both sets of families are forced to ask tough questions, not just of themselves, but of each other. Throughout the series, we meet Tobi (Lucian Msamati), who is Kiri’s birth grandfather, as well as Alice (Lia Williams) Kiri’s fiercely articulate white foster mother, who watches as her family starts to fall to pieces under the pressure of very public grief.
Writer Jack Thorne has said of the series: “My Mum spent most of her life in the caring professions and I've always wanted to find a way of examining the pressures they are put under. I'm so grateful as always for the bravery and brilliance of Channel 4 in being prepared to look these issues in the face.”
George Ormond, co-executive producer, added: “Following Miriam, Tobi and Alice as their lives are put under the spotlight is utterly compelling, an emotional rollercoaster. It’s typical of Jack’s writing that it leaves you torn – you love them, and question them at the same time. We’re delighted to have attracted such a wonderful cast, and to be working with Jack again.”
Who’s in the cast of Kiri?
The cast of Kiri includes:
- Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax) as Miriam Grayson
- Lucian Msamati (Taboo, Luther) as Tobi Akindele
- Lia Williams (The Missing, The Crown) as Alice
- Paapa Essiedu (The Capture) as Nathaniel Akindele
- Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) as Detective Inspector Vanessa Mercer
- Steven Mackintosh (Wanderlust) as Jim Warner
- Finn Bennett (Black Doves) as Simon Warner
- Claire Rushbrook (Wilderness) as Julie Burnett
- Sue Johnston (Riot Women) as Celia Grayson
- Felicia Mukasa (Top Boy) as Kiri Akindele
- Andi Osho (Blue Lights) as Rochelle Akindele
- Cara Theobold (Downton Abbey) as Lucy Maxwell
Is there a trailer for Kiri?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Kiri below.
Is Kiri any good?
Yes – it’s a fantastic series that we’d recommend setting some time aside for. When Kiri first aired in 2018, it drew in record viewing figures and became the most-watched drama on All 4. It’s a hard-hitting watch with a truly stunning performance from Sarah Lancashire. Viewers have called it “utterly enthralling”, “a pertinent drama” and “a gripping crime series".
How can I watch Kiri?
All four episodes of Kiri are available to watch on Channel 4 now.
What other Sarah Lancashire dramas can I watch now?
If you haven’t yet seen Sarah’s BBC drama, MotherFatherSon, we’d really recommend it. Theseries sees Sarah step into the shoes of an MP, who enters a power struggle with ruthless millionaire media mogul Max Finch (Richard Gere) and Sarah proves she'd make an excellent politician. You can watch MotherFatherSon on BBC iPlayer now. We’d also recommend checking out her performance in Julia. Written by Daniel Goldfarb (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) the series is inspired by the life of trailblazing American cookbook author and TV personality Julia Child (played by Sarah Lancashire), whose show, The French Chef, practically invented food television. You can watch Julia on Prime Video.
