Bella Ramsey Returns To British TV In Channel 4’s Upcoming Thriller, Maya

Best known for writing and starring in the acclaimed Back To Life, Daisy Haggard has hopped across to Channel 4 for her next piece – a thriller titled Maya. And this time as well as writing and starring, Haggard is directing the series along with Jamie Donoughue.

She takes on the role of Anna, a devoted single mother to the titular character Maya, played by Bella Ramsey. Known for roles in HBO’s big-hitters Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, you might also recognise Ramsey from British series like His Dark Materials, Time and Becoming Elizabeth. And in this piece they play headstrong teenager Maya struggling to come to terms with her new life in a witness protection scheme. Here’s everything we know so far.

Maya: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More

‘Tis the season of great British drama – but we will have to wait a little while longer to see Maya, Channel 4’s upcoming drama which has officially finished filming. Announcing the news, the British broadcaster has also given us our first look at the action, with four sneak-peek images showing the mother-daughter duo at the centre of the series, Anna (Haggard) and Maya (Ramsey).

Daisy Haggard as Anna & Bella Ramsey as Maya in Maya. (Channel 4)

What Will Happen?

Maya begins with Anna and Maya’s relocation from London to Scotland – not dissimilar to ITV’s recent drama, Coldwater. But where Coldwater was about protecting children from the violence of the city, Maya seems even more sinister.

Anna is a determined and devoted mother to her headstrong teenager Maya, and both up sticks as part of a witness protection programme, forced to leave their lives and Anna’s parents Nancy (Harriet Walter) and George (Tom Courteney) behind in London in order to escape life-threatening danger.

Settling in a rural Scottish town, Anna and Maya take on new identities with the help of Senior Detective Constable Debs (Josie Walker) and Witness Protection Officers Tony (Stuart Bowman) and Karen (Kiran Sonia Sawar). But adjusting to their new reality was never going to be easy with past trauma on their minds and antagonists on their tails.

Bella Ramsey as Maya & Daisy Haggard as Anna in Maya. (Channel 4)

Indeed, two hitmen – Benji (Ben Chaplin) and Ted (Raphel Famotibe) – are intent on tracking Anna and Maya down. And as the walls start to close in on this mother-daughter duo, it becomes clear that a dangerous, calculating figure from their past, the once trusted and seemingly charming Bobby (Tobias Menzies), remains a looming threat.

Across six episodes, we’re told to expect an atmospheric psychological thriller delving into predatory male behaviour, family and love – as well as the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter.

Produced by Two Brothers – the company behind The Tourist, Fleabag and Prime’s recent thriller The Assassin – we think it’s safe to assume the darkness of Maya will be matched by Haggard’s trademark wit and black comedy. Filmed entirely on location in Scotland, we’re also expecting some wild and dramatic scenery to boot.

Daisy Haggard as Anna in Maya. (Channel 4)

Who Will Star?

Alongside Haggard and Ramsey, the cast of Maya is chock-full of recognisable faces, including Harriet Walter as Anna’s mother/Maya’s grandmother and Tobias Menzies as a villainous figure from their pasts.

The full cast we know so far is as follows:

• Daisy Haggard as Anna
• Bella Ramsey as Maya
• Tobias Menzies as Bobby
• Ben Chaplin as Benji
• Raphel Famotibe as Ted
• Josie Walker as Senior Detective Constable Debs
• Harriet Walter as Nancy
• Tom Courtenay as George
• Stuart Bowman as Tony
• Kiran Sonia Sawar as Karen
• Serena Manteghi
• Archie Backhouse
• Paul Blair
• Sonny Poon Tip
• Finlay Shack
• Max Fincham
• Ash Hunter
• Harry Hadden-Paton
• Tori Allen-Martin
• Isabele Derosa

Release Date

No specific date from Channel 4 just yet, but filming has wrapped and we are told to expect to see Maya in 2026. It will air on Channel 4, and be available to stream at channel4.com