If you tuned into ITV crime drama, Protection, earlier this year, you’ll have already witnessed the brilliance of Katherine Kelly – and, thankfully, it’s not the last we’ll be seeing of her. The actor is starring in Channel’s 4’s new "nerve-shedding" crime thriller, In Flight, and judging from the trailer (which you get a sneak peek of below), it's set to take us on quite a journey.

The new series will see Katherine play flight attendant Jo, whose whole life is turned upside down when she finds herself blackmailed into using her job to smuggle drugs. With her son’s life at the centre of negotiations, it’s a situation no mother would ever want to find themselves in.

Ahead of the In Flight's arrival on our screens this August, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming series, including the full plot, cast and release date...

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What is Channel 4's In Flight about?

The six-part series follows Katherine Kelly as single mum Jo, a flight attendant whose son is serving a 15-year sentence in a Bulgarian prison for a murder he swears he didn’t commit. When Jo is approached by a gang who knows all about her son, she finds herself blackmailed into using her job to smuggle drugs.

jo conran (katherine kelly)
Channel 4

Pulled into a murky underworld of corrupt cops and hired killers, Jo is forced to carry out their orders with no escape in sight. However, no matter how far Jo finds herself from her old life, her mission remains the same - to keep her son alive.

According to the official synopsis, In Flight is "set against the fast-paced, high-pressure world of global air travel and will follow Jo’s relentless quest to protect her family while entangled in a dangerous criminal syndicate."

Katherine Kelly has said of her role: “I am really excited to be taking on the role of Jo and I can’t wait to tell her compelling story. I am delighted to be working with Buccaneer Media again and it’s joy to be filming in Belfast.”

in flight
Channel 4

The series is written and co-created by Mike Walden (Marcella, Whitstable Pearl) and Adam Randall (Slow Horses, iBoy), who have called it "our spin on the noir genre, a high stakes, stylish, romantic thriller with iconic characters and nerve shredding action."

They continue: “Jo is a character close to our hearts. She is an ordinary woman facing extraordinary odds. We can't wait for audiences to meet her.”

Rebecca Dundon, Executive Producer at production company Fremantle, says it’s “a surprising, propulsive standout - a high-stakes action crime thriller that combines the intensity of international drug smuggling with the emotional depth of a mother’s relentless quest to save her son.

“Set against the high-pressure world of global travel, this series offers a fresh, commercially powerful mix of suspense, sacrifice, and gripping drama. I couldn’t put the script down, and audiences everywhere will feel the same."

Who's starring in In Flight?

in flight
Channel 4

The cast of In Flight includes:

  • Katherine Kelly (Mr Bates vs the Post Office, The Long Shadow)
  • Stuart Martin as Cormac, a key member of the criminal gang
  • Ashley Thomas as Dom, a customs officer at a major London airport
  • Bronagh Waugh as Melanie
  • Harry Cadby as Sonny
  • Corinna Brown as Kayla
  • Ambreen Razia as Zara

Is there a trailer for In Flight?

Yes, Channel 4 has just released a new trailer, which you can watch below.

How can I watch In Flight?

pictured: peter marley
Channel 4

Good news - In Flight is coming soon! The series will air on Channel 4 from Tuesday 12th August.