“A thrilling and witty treat”: why Sheridan’s Smith new BBC crime drama The Cage will “break your heart"

Sheridan Smith will be leading brand new BBC crime drama The Cage which promises to be thrilling, witty and heart-breaking in equal measure. The new series is from the makers of Normal People (based on the Sally Rooney romance novel of the same name) and, similarly, we can expect a "love story of sorts" from the latest series.

The show is set in a Liverpool casino where two workers discover they are both robbing the same safe. The Cage has been written and created by BAFTA nominee Tony Schumacher who said he is hoping viewers will find it "funny, dark, but most of all full of love, life and entertainment.” Element Pictures, a Fremantle Company which was behind Normal People, will produce the "high-stakes, high energy crime story". And now, the first images from the show have been released giving us a first proper look at the series. Here's everything we know so far about the exciting new drama:

What is The Cage about?

The plot follows two characters, Leanne and Matty, and is set in an inner-city casino in Liverpool. When the pair discover they're both robbing from the safe at the casino where they work, "their lives are set on a collision course; with each other, the local gangster they're stealing from, and the police", explains the synopsis.

The BBC bills the new series as "a crime show, a show about family and a love story of sorts" which has "two unforgettable characters at its heart." Tony Schumacher "writes characters from the heart that break your heart" it says, describing The Cage as "by turns funny, poignant, thrilling, and sad".

The show will be set over five episodes and will filmed on location, in and around Liverpool and Merseyside.

Who is the The Cage cast?

Sheridan Smith will lead the new drama as Leanne, opposite Michael Socha as Matty.

"Being able to work with such talents as Sheridan, Michael and the teams at Element Pictures and the BBC is such an honour," said writer Tony of the lead cast, while Director of BBC Drama Lindsey Salt added that the cast and team behind the new production means "viewers are in for a treat.”

Joining the pair in the cast are:

• Barry Sloane (House of the Dragon) - Gary
• Geraldine James (Dope Girls) - Nancy
• Anton Bibby - Thomas
• Freya Jones - Emily
• Sophie Mensah (Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale) - Fen
• Abby Mavers (Waterloo Road) - Kelly
• Shaun Mason (Extraordinary) - Alan
• Louis Emerick (The Power of Parker) - Paul
• Ian Puleston Davies (Tin Star) - Vincent
• Julia Papp (Baptiste) - Irina
• Katy Carmichael (Malpractice) - DCI Hannigan
• Dave Hart (The Responder) - Danny
• Eileen O’Brien (Not Going Out) - Nanna
• Eithne Browne (The Responder) - Annie
• Mona Goodwin (Extraordinary) - Trace

Where can I watch The Cage?

The Cage will be available to watch on BBC One as well as to stream on BBC iPlayer. The release date of the show has yet to be announced, but hopefully now that the first images of the show have been released we won't have to wait too much longer to find out.