“Her best role since Happy Valley”: Inside Sarah Lancashire’s “unmissable” new crime drama Witch Hunt

It’s been three long years we last saw Sarah Lancashire in a crime drama (ahem, Happy Valley) and, in news that will please fans everywhere, her hiatus is finally over. The 61-year-old actress is taking on her best role since the BBC drama in Witch Hunt, the unmissable new Netflix series that will see her play a mother who drowned her three daughters. Yes, it's pretty dark!

Having served her time, August Howell (played by Sarah) is now free and hoping to start life afresh in her old community, while building a relationship with her remaining daughter. Her return is far from straightforward, however, and coincides with the not-so-small issue of a serial killer terrifying the town. And who do the police think can hep them? August’s very own daughter, who’s now an investigative psychologist.

With the series coming to Netflix soon, here’s everything you need to know about Witch Hunt, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

What is Witch Hunt about?

The series, which creator Abi Morgan has described as a “dark yet emotionally charged love story”, will introduce us to August Howell (Sarah Lancashire, pictured above in An Ordinary Woman), a convicted murderer who returns home after serving several decades in prison. Her crime? Drowning her three young daughters.

When she arrives home, her community doesn’t exactly welcome her back and neither does her remaining daughter, academic and investigative psychologist Professor Wren Howell. Netflix’s official synopsis continues: “As concern grows that her return has triggered a modern-day witch hunt in the university town, the police must turn to August’s last surviving daughter to help find a serial killer who is now terrifying the town.”

Abi Morgan says of the series: “I last worked with Sarah Lancashire over 25 years ago. I have been chasing the perfect role for her ever since. This is it.

“I can’t think of anyone better to embody the terrifying tenderness of the ‘Witch of Cambridge.’ It’s gothic horror meets dark thriller laced with modern-day witchcraft, raising the question: Can August ever be forgiven for her crime?”

Sarah Lancashire added of her new role: “I’m thrilled to be working with Abi Morgan, Jane Featherstone, SISTER Pictures, and Netflix on Witch Hunt. It’s a brilliantly imagined and utterly compelling story, with a deeply complex character at its heart.”

Executive Producer Jane Featherstone has described Sarah as “extraordinary” and told Netflix how she “still surprises me every time.” She continued: “What I’ve always loved about Abi’s writing is the humanity she brings to even the darkest stories. Witch Hunt is a fascinating contemporary thriller, with three generations of women at its heart and all the wit and compassion that make her work so distinctive. We can’t wait to share it with audiences around the world.”

Who’s in the cast of Witch Hunt?

As it stands, Sarah Lancashire if the only confirmed cast member of Witch Hunt. We’re expecting more cast details to be released soon, so watch this space for more details as we have them.

How can I watch Witch Hunt?

Netflix hasn’t yet shared a release date for Witch Hunt, but we’re expecting it to be released at some point in 2027. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll update you here.

What other Sarah Lancashire dramas can I watch now?

If you fancy seeing Sarah’s ruthless side, we’d recommend MotherFatherSon. The superb family drama stars Sarah as Angela Howard, an MP and Leader of the Opposition who enters a power struggle with millionaire media mogul Max Finch (Richard Gere). You can watch MotherFatherSon on BBC iPlayer. For detective drama fans, we’d suggest Rose and Maloney. The series sees Sarah star alongside Phil Davis as the titular Rose Linden and Marion Maloney, investigators who work for the fictional Criminal Justice Review Agency and primarily take on claims of miscarriages of justice. Rose and Maloney is available to watch on Prime Video.