What would you do if your child was accused of an unthinkable crime? That’s the horrific situation Sheridan Smith’s character, Kathy, finds herself facing in No Return. The outstanding series, which fans called Sheridan’s best crime drama in ages when it first aired four years ago, is available to watch on ITV tonight - and if you’ve ever thought about booking a package holiday, you might think twice about it after watching it.
You see, Kathy has booked the perfect all-inclusive holiday in Turkey with her husband and two children. But when her teenage son, Noah (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) innocently accepts an invitation to a party, little does he know that he’ll soon be accused of a serious sexual assault – and it will spiral into a hellish ordeal for both Noah and his whole family.
With all four episodes now available to stream in full, here’s everything you need to know about No Return before you tune in, including the plot, cast, trailer and how to watch it.
What is No Return about?
Created by Danny Brocklehurst (Ten Pound Poms, Fool Me Once), the four-part drama, which first aired on ITV in 2022, introduces us to Kathy (Sheridan Smith) and Martin (Michael Jibson) who are looking forward to an idyllic, all-inclusive holiday in Turkey with their two children Noah (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) and Jess (Lily Sutcliffe). The break is a chance to finally spend some quality time together, but they’re blissfully unaware of the ordeal about to unfold.
When 16-year-old Noah accepts a seemingly innocent invitation to a beach party from a fellow holidaymaker, Rosie (Jodie Campbell), who’s staying at the same hotel, he sees it as a chance to have a bit of fun. But when he’s arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, a distraught Kathy and Martin are left fighting for his freedom at a time when he should be at school sitting his exams.
Covering themes guilt, parental love and the issues around consent for teenagers, it’s a series that deals with every parent’s worst nightmare and one that’s steeped in experience. Creator Danny Brocklehurst explained in an ITV interview: “This originated from a friend of mine who had been tangentially involved in something of a similar nature where a relative of theirs had been caught up in a foreign legal system. He told me about the details of this event on a walk we were on one day. I just listened to it as a story that had happened to somebody.”
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Star Sheridan Smith shared how the series made her reflect on what she’d do if she found herself in the same situation: “What happens to this family is so unexpected. They go off on holiday to Turkey which they have been really looking forward to and it turns into a disaster when their son Noah is arrested,” she says.
“I’m sure people will think about what they would do if that was their child. “Suddenly they are plunged into a completely different legal system. It’s just a nightmare. When I read the script and then when I was playing the role I was thinking, ‘My God, if this was my son Billy, I can’t imagine how I would feel.’ There was a lot of angst during filming. Lots of crying, lots of screaming, lots of constant tension. The scenes where we arrive and are actually enjoying the holiday were so rare.”
Who’s in the cast of No Return?
The cast of No Return includes:
- Sheridan Smith (I Fought the Law) as Kathy Powell
- Michael Jibson (The Lighthouse) as Martin Powell
- Louis Ashbourne Serkis (Out There) as Noah Powell
- Lily Sutcliffe as Jessica Powell
- David Mumeni (Sliced) as Steve McGee
- Siân Brooke (Blue Lights) as Megan McGee
- Jack Chorley as Fred McGee
- Jodie Campbell (Boarders) as Rosie
- Philip Arditti (Born of War) as Rico Karvalci
- Murat Seven (Air) as Ismail
Is there a trailer for No Return?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for No Return below:
Is No Return any good?
Yes – you can expect another powerhouse performance from Sheridan Smith who captures the agony of mother in an impossible situation. It’s intense, emotional and it goes to show how one small decision can spiral into something unthinkable. We should also warn you – if you’re thinking about booking a package holiday, it might put you off somewhat...
What other Sheridan Smith dramas can I watch now?
One of Sheridan’s most heartbreaking roles is in Care. The series stars Sheridan as single mum Jenny whose mum, Mary (Alison Steadman), is her lifeline. So when Mary develops dementia after a stroke, Jenny finds herself facing excruciating choices and battling with a broken care system. You can watch Care on Netflix now. For something creepier, we’d recommend The Widower. The three-part drama sees Sheridan plays the real-life Claire Morris, who was killed by her husband Malcolm Webster (Reece Shearsmith) for insurance money. The Widower is also available to watch Netflix now.
