Fans of The Responder may have been left disappointed by news that the critically acclaimed crime drama has been “rested” after just two series, but there’s good news on the horizon after the BBC announced a gritty new series from the same creator.
The BBC has announced The Cage, a new Liverpool-set crime thriller from The Responder creator Tony Schumacher, and it promises the same intensity, grit, and emotional depth that made its predecessor a hit.
Starring BAFTA winner Sheridan Smith (Cilla, The C Word, Mrs Biggs) and Michael Socha (The Gallows Pole, Showtrial), The Cage is set to be a high-energy, high-stakes drama set in the shadowy world of a Liverpool casino. When Leanne (Smith) and Matty (Socha) both find themselves attempting to rob the same safe, they’re thrown into a fight for survival. Their actions place them in the crosshairs of a local gangster, as well as the police, setting the stage for a five-part thriller packed with the sort of tension that made The Responder such a big success.
Produced by Element Pictures (Poor Things, Normal People), The Cage is set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Director Al Mackay (Kidnapped, Without Sin) will bring Schumacher’s script to life, ensuring the series maintains the same immersive, character-driven storytelling that The Responder was praised for.
Schumacher, excited to return to the BBC with his second major drama, said: “I’m hoping people will find it funny, dark, but most of all full of love, life, and entertainment.” Executive producers Christopher Aird and Hilary Martin describe The Cage as “a crime show, a show about family, and a love story of sorts.”
This announcement comes as The Responder – starring Martin Freeman as troubled cop Chris Carson – has reportedly been put on hold due to scheduling conflicts. Although a third series hasn’t been ruled out, Schumacher has said he’s content with where Carson’s story was left, previosly stating, “Chris is safe where he is now.”
