BBC’s new Sheridan Smith drama The Cage is so alive with gripping tension you’ll binge the lot

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Sheridan Smith consistently shines in dramatic roles, and her new series, The Cage, is another strong performance. Created by the writer of The Responder, this five-part drama centers on Leanne, a seemingly cheerful single mother and casino worker who starts stealing money when life becomes overwhelming.

So, I’m playing this game and my character’s a bit of a thief. Turns out my boss, Matty, has been cooking the books too! We’re both in deep financially, so we’ve had to team up and try to dig ourselves out of this mess together. It’s a pretty wild ride!

Things really hit the fan when the local mob, who were using the casino to launder money, figured out someone stole from them. And then the cops got involved, starting to dig into all the shady stuff happening at the casino. It quickly became a total mess!

You’ll be captivated by the end of the first episode, largely thanks to the show’s compelling main characters.

Smith makes us feel for Leanne, who is overwhelmed by the challenges of being a mother, caring for her grandmother who has dementia, and worrying about losing her home.

Honestly, the actress playing this character nailed the emotional weight of everything she was going through. Even before I fully understood what she was dealing with, I could feel her pain. It was in the little things – a sad smile, quiet tears, just how weighed down she seemed. And that scream… man, when she was on that rooftop, contemplating everything, it was brutal. What really got me was how quickly she had to snap out of it and just do what needed doing, even when she was clearly falling apart.

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The story gives you goosebumps and is deeply moving. A constant, gripping tension builds, so when you discover the character stealing from the casino, you don’t want to stop her – you find yourself wanting to help her get away with it.

Smith’s skill truly shines through in the way the viewer can empathize with Leanne, almost physically feeling the weight of her stress – it’s a deeply engaging and satisfying experience.

It’s harder to feel the same way about her boss, Matty, who struggles with a gambling addiction. As the story unfolds, we begin to understand him better and feel more sympathy. While both actors, Socha and Smith, give incredible performances, they portray desperation in very different ways.

Socha portrays Matty with a heartbreaking vulnerability, and despite appearances, you’ll likely find yourself deeply caring about his challenges.

As we learn more about Matty, layers of Socha’s character are unveiled. We see his ability to love, the pain he’s experienced, and his feelings of despair, all of which become more apparent as he and Leanne face increasing difficulties. Despite his weaknesses, you can’t help but feel affection for Matty and hope he finds the strength to overcome his challenges and become a better version of himself.

They create a connection that makes you care deeply about their well-being, which naturally increases the drama and builds exciting tension.

The film The Cage is well-paced, skillfully building tension throughout the story. Danger is subtly woven into the plot, revealed gradually and piece by piece.

This is a captivating and emotional story that draws you in and truly resonates with viewers, making it a film or show well worth seeing.

You can now watch all episodes of The Cage on BBC iPlayer. It also airs on BBC One every Sunday at 9pm.

The latest issue of Living Legends, a beautifully illustrated 100-page tribute to Sir David Attenborough, is now available! You can purchase it at newsstands or online.

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2026-04-27 09:19