A new crime drama starring Sheridan Smith has been given its release date by BBC One.
The Cage follows Smith as Leanne, a Liverpool casino employee who has been skimming money undetected.
However, when she and co-worker Matty (Michael Socha) discover they’re both robbing from the safe, their lives quickly spiral out of control.
The synopsis notes the pair are “set on a collision course; with each other, the local gangster they’re stealing from, and the police”.
The new five-part drama, written by The Responder’s BAFTA winning creator Tony Schumacher, starts Sunday 26 April at 9pm on BBC One, and will be available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer.
It will be directed by Al Mackay, whose previous work includes psychological drama Without Sin, Deep Water and COBRA.
Joining Socha and Smith in the cast is House of the Dragon’s Barry Sloane, Dope Girls’ Geraldine James, Anton Bibby, Freya Jones, Sophie Mensah and Abby Mavers.
Additional casting includes Shaun Mason (Extraordinary), Louis Emerick (The Power of Parker), Ian Puleston Davies (Tin Star), Julia Papp (Baptiste), Katy Carmichael (Malpractice), Dave Hart (The Responder), Eileen O’Brien (Not Going Out), Eithne Browne (Broken) and Mona Goodwin (Black Mirror).
Ahead of the show’s release, Schumacher said: “Coming back to the BBC with my second major show and being able to work with such talents as Sheridan, Michael and the teams at Element Pictures and the BBC is such an honour.
“On top of that, having a director of Al’s calibre really is the cherry on the big Liverpool drama cake we’re baking together.
“I’m hoping people will find it funny, dark, but most of all full of love, life and entertainment and I can’t wait for the world to see it.”
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The Cage starts Sunday 26 April at 9pm on BBC One, and will be available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer.
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