If you’re as much of a fan of Sheridan Smith as we are at Good Housekeeping, we’re going to let you in on a secret. While everyone’s busy talking about the arrival of her ITV drama, Cilla, on Netflix, we've come across another lesser-known drama available to watch on the BBC – and critics have called it Sheridan’s “best performance yet”. Yes, really. Enter Four Lives, the heart-wrenching drama based on a harrowing true story that we'd recommend watching immediately.
The series stars Sheridan as the mother of Anthony Walgate, one of the four young gay men murdered by Stephen Port between June 2014 and September 2015. It’s a gut-wrenching watch that focuses on the plight of the victims’ family and friends to get justice for their loved ones. When Port was eventually convicted in 2016, a jury ruled that there had been police failures in the investigation, and had they been avoided, some of his victims may still be alive.
If you’re looking for a drama that will truly move you, here’s everything you need to know about Four Lives, including the plot, full cast and how to watch it.
What is Four Lives about?
The three-part drama first aired on BBC One in 2022 and tells the true story of the courageous families of four young gay men - Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor - who were murdered by Stephen Port. The series focuses on their fight to uncover the truth about what had happened to their lost sons, brothers and loved ones in the face of a widely condemned police investigation.
As we mentioned, in November 2016, Stephen Port received a life sentence with a whole-life order and the jury ruled that failings by the Met Police contributed to the deaths of Port's final three victims. The drama focuses on the harrowing real-life events, as well as the families and friends who worked tirelessly to get to the bottom of what happened to their loved ones.
Sheridan Smith stars as Sarah Sak, the mother of Anthony Walgate, Port's first victim, and has previously admitted it was one of the hardest jobs of her life. "Every night I was going home in bits, crying – you can’t help but take it home," she told The Sun. "I have so much respect for her and what she must have gone through. I really beat myself up with it because I want to do a good job for them.”
She continued: “I think it brings something different out in me when I play a real person. I love to get a connection with them. I mean it from my heart that I want to do my best for them, it’s not like I meet them to go, ‘Oh, what are your mannerisms’ and then just dump them. I’m invested in them. I know their lives and I’ve got so much admiration for them. They’re special jobs.”
Who’s in the cast of Four Lives?
The cast of Four Lives includes:
- Sheridan Smith as Sarah Sak
- Jakub Svec as Gabriel Kovari
- Tim Preston as Anthony Walgate
- Leo Flanagan as Daniel Whitworth
- Paddy Rowan as Jack Taylor
- Stephen Merchant as Stephen Port
- Michael Jibson as DC Slaymaker
- Rufus Jones as John Pape
- Daniel Ryan as Adam
- Alexa Davies as Kiera
- Isabella Laughland as China
- Jaime Winstone as Donna
- Leanne Best as Kate
- Robert Emms as Ricky
- Stephanie Hyam as Jenny
- Samuel Barnett as Ryan Edwards
- Kris Hitchen as Tom
- Memet Ali Alabora as Sami
Is there a trailer for Four Lives?
Yes, you can get a taste of what's in store from the trailer below:
Is Four Lives any good?
Yes – but we should warn you, it’s a good idea to have some tissues at the ready as it’s not the easiest watch. Sheridan Smith has been praised for her impeccable performance, with critics and viewers calling it her “best performance yet” and describing it as a “heart-wrenching watch”.
How can I watch Four Lives?
All three episodes of Four Lives are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
What is Sheridan Smith starring in next?
Good news – there’s a brand-new Sheridan Smith drama coming to our screens later this year. The Gavin & Stacey star will appear in the ITV series, I Fought the Law, as Ann Ming, the heartbroken mother who campaigned to change the Double Jeopardy Law and ensure that her daughter’s murderer was convicted. She's also been cast in BBC One crime drama, The Cage, which is likely to air in 2026. Watch this space for more news we have it.
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