Sheridan Smith is to star in a new three-part ITV drama set in Leeds.
Smith (Cilla, The Widower, Mrs Biggs) will appear in Black Work (3 x 60′), a thriller written by Matt Charman and produced by Mammoth Screen.
Filming will start in Leeds this autumn.
Sheridan Smith
Black Work will tell the story of a police officer who has to confront difficult truths about her family life and her marriage.
Writer Matt Charman explained the inspiration for the drama: “Sheridan Smith is a dream to write for because as an actress there’s really nothing she can’t do.
“And Black Work is a story that pushes her to the limit – it makes her character, Jo Gillespie doubt herself, her family, her friends, everything she’s always taken for granted in her search for her husband’s killer.”
Black Work has been commissioned for ITV by director of drama commissioning Steve November and controller of drama Victoria Fea.
“We’re delighted to be working with Sheridan Smith again and with the hugely talented Matt Charman,” said November, who also commissioned Smith for Cilla, which filmed in Liverpool earlier this year.
“Black Work is a high stakes drama which sees Jo risk everything in search of the truth. It’s a risk she’s prepared to take but it threatens to destroy both her family and career.”
Michael Samuels (Bafta winning Any Human Heart and The Fear) will direct, with Tom Mullens (New Tricks) producing. Rebecca Keane and Damien Timmer executive produce for Mammoth Screen.
