If you’ve been waiting for a new Liverpool-set drama that promises plenty of twists, you’re getting your wish. Sheridan Smith has now confirmed the release date for upcoming BBC drama The Cage, written and created by BAFTA nominated Tony Schumacher.
The series—shot in Liverpool—centers on Leanne (Sheridan Smith) and Matty (Michael Socha), who discover they’re both robbing from the safe at the inner-city casino where they work. It’s a five-part thrilling run, directed by Al Mackay, and it kicks off on Sunday April 26 at 9pm on BBC One. It’ll also be available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer, so yes, you can binge it—if you’re the kind of person who pretends you’ll “just watch one episode.”
The cast, meanwhile, looks stacked: joining Socha and Smith is House of the Dragon’s Barry Sloane, along with Dope Girls’ Geraldine James, Anton Bibby, Freya Jones, Sophie Mensah and Abby Mavers. And Tony Schumacher’s enthusiasm is pretty clear in how he talks about bringing this second major show back to the BBC—working with Sheridan and Michael, plus the teams at Element Pictures and the BBC.
He also frames it as something that’s not only gripping, but carries that Liverpool mix of bite and warmth. Schumacher said he’s hoping people will find it funny, dark, but most of all full of love, life and entertainment. Which… honestly sounds like the kind of tonal balancing act that either lands beautifully or leaves you scratching your head. Probably that’s why people are paying attention.
Sheridan, for her part, has long spoken about how much she loves the city. She originally hails from Lincolnshire, but she’s been an adopted Scouser ever since she played Cilla Black in the 2014 ITV series based on the life of the Blind Date presenter. Before The Cage lands, that connection is still part of the story—she’s talked about how the people are so friendly, that they give her big hugs, and how there’s “such a buzz here.” One line sticks with the vibe she keeps returning to: driving in and feeling like she’s come home.
There’s even a small, real-life detail floating around from the production schedule. Misryoum newsroom reported that while filming, the cast and crew apparently settled into a routine of visiting the Paper Cup Coffee shop—founded by Michelle Langan and the Paper Cup Project charity, which supports people experiencing homelessness in the city. They sent the owners a card to say thank you for “keeping us going.” Michelle shared a photograph of it, and the message is pretty heartfelt: “To Paper Cup, Thank you so much for keeping the crew going! It’s been a pleasure.” You can almost imagine that moment—maybe the warm smell of coffee, the quick stop, the card passed over the counter—like a little pause in the middle of all that filming pressure.
And of course, the tone of the show is being pitched as character-driven and heart-forward. Misryoum editorial desk noted that BBC Drama Ms Salt described The Cage as “character-driven, hugely entertaining and full of heart,” and she’s delighted Tony has chosen the BBC for his second series following on from the success of The Responder. With Al Mackay directing and Element Pictures producing, Misryoum analysis indicates viewers are in for something that’s trying to keep you tense—while still making room for humor and warmth. Whether the show fully pulls it off is one question. Another is simpler: how fast will people finish the boxset?
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