Sheridan Smith’s BBC drama cancelled after just one series

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The BBC has confirmed that its crime thriller The Cage, starring Sheridan Smith, won’t be returning for a second series.

The five-parter, which aired back in April, followed casino workers Leanne (Smith) and Matty (Michael Socha) as they embezzled profits from their employer, completely unaware that the casino managers were also pulling off a criminal scheme.

Created by The Responder’s Tony Schumacher, The Cage received a three-star review from The Independent when it aired, with critic Nick Hilton noting that much like its protagonists, the drama was “sweet and simple, not bad but not terribly good either”.

Now, the BBC has revealed that The Cage won’t be back on our screens in the future.

Michael Socha and Sheridan Smith in 'The Cage' — Michael Socha and Sheridan Smith in ‘The Cage’ (BBC/Element Pictures)

A spokesperson told The Independent: “We loved bringing Leanne and Matty’s story to BBC viewers and send our heartfelt thanks to Tony Schumacher, Element Pictures and all the cast and crew who worked on this powerful and poignant series.”

While The Cage’s story has come to an end, the BBC will be working with Element Pictures on two upcoming dramas: You Are Here starring Claire Foy and Matthew Macfadyen, and the second series of Nightsleeper.

The Independent understands that The Cage’s cancellation is unrelated to budget cuts.

The Sheridan Smith drama isn’t the only BBC show that has been axed in recent months; in July, Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo were cancelled by the BBC due to “funding challenges”.

Earlier in the year, the corporation announced that it hoped to save £500 million over the next three years, which would involve cutting 1,800 to 2,000 jobs within the company.

The series is one of several to be axed by the BBC this year (BBC/Element Pictures)

This month, the BBC announced that winter sports programme Ski Sunday would come to an end after 50 years on the air, while BBC Three’s RuPaul’s Drag Race UK was also axed after 11 series.

A BBC spokesperson said regarding Drag Race UK ending: “As the BBC continues to navigate significant financial pressures and deliver the savings required of us, we have had to make some very difficult choices, none of which have been taken lightly.”

While The Cage won’t be back, Sheridan is next set to appear in ITV mystery thriller Two Birds, while Socha will star in forthcoming Channel 4 drama Deadpoint.

Sheridan Smith’s BBC drama cancelled after just one series

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