The Cage: A New Sheridan Smith Drama Begins This Weekend

When BAFTA winning actress Sheridan Smith is involved in a series, you just know it’s going to be good. Rising to fame thanks to comedic roles across Royle Family (1999-2000), Benidorm (2009) and Gavin & Stacey (2008-10), the Lincolnshire local is better known for her more recent, grittier roles in things like Mrs Biggs (2012), Cleaning Up (2019) and The Teacher (2022).

Next, Smith takes on the role as a charismatic cashier at an inner-city casino, where she works with her boss Matty, played by Michael Socha. But, as it turns out, neither are being completely honest with each other…

Here’s everything we know so far about The Cage.

The Cage: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More

Leanne (SHERIDAN SMITH) & Matty (MICHAEL SOCHA) in The Cage. (BBC/Element Pictures)

The Plot

Leanne (Smith) is struggling to scrape her money together – so much so she is at risk of losing her family home. Working as a cashier at a casino, however, she is constantly surrounded by money. Who would notice her skimming a bit of cash? With her family’s future at stake, it seems worth the risk.

But then Leanne spots a suspicious coincidence: her boss Matty (Socha) is doing the exact same thing. Thus ensues a downward spiral. Both are stealing from a local gangster, and they must avoid clashing with him, each other, and the police.

Watch the trailer below for a taste of the action.

First announced by the BBC in March 2025, we are told to expect a ‘high-stakes, high-energy crime story’. Created and written by BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Tony Schumacher, the series will be made up of five one hour-long episodes, all backdropped by Liverpool – joining a slate of recent dramas filmed and set here, including This City is Ours and Channel 4’s The Gathering.

Schumacher previously penned The Responder for the BBC, and he was joined behind the camera by director Al Mackay. The full series was filmed in and around Liverpool and Merseyside.

Promoting The Cage on The One Show, Smith gushed about Liverpool, adding: ‘I feel like an adopted Scouser. The people were so nice [during filming]. We were invited over for cups of tea and people were bringing out donuts and biscuits.’

Leanne (SHERIDAN SMITH) & Matty (MICHAEL SOCHA) in The Cage. (BBC/Element Pictures)

The Cast

Smith and Socha lead the series as Leanne and Matty, both familiar faces on British telly. If you are wondering where you recognise Socha from, it could be anything from This is England ‘86 (2010) and This is England ‘88 (2011) to Chernobyl (2019) and Showtrial (2024).

They are joined by stars from the likes of House of the Dragon and Dope Girls. The full cast we know so far is as follows:

• Sheridan Smith as Leanne
• Michael Socha as Matty
• Barry Sloane as Gary Packer
• Geraldine James as Nancy Packer
• Anton Bibby as Thomas Chapel
• Freya Jones as Emily Flynn
• Sophie Mensah as Fen
• Shaun Mason as Alan
• Louis Emerick as Paul
• Sue Jenkins as Shelagh Flynn
• Eileen O’Brien as ‘Nanna’
• Mona Goodwin as Trace

Gary (BARRY SLOANE) in The Cage. (BBC/Element Pictures)

Release Date

The Cage premieres at 9pm on Sunday 26 April 2026 on BBC One.

All five episodes will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from Sunday 26 April 2026.

Matty (MICHAEL SOCHA) in The Cage. (BBC/Element Pictures)

When Is The Next Episode On TV?

The Cage airs weekly on Sundays at 9pm on BBC One. The episode release schedule is as follows:

• Episode 1: 9pm, Sunday 26 April 2026
• Episode 2: 9pm, Sunday 3 May 2026
• Episode 3: 9pm, Sunday 10 May 2026
• Episode 4: 9pm, Sunday 17 May 2026
• Episode 5: 9pm, Sunday 24 May 2026