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Crime thriller fans are heaping praise on a gripping new BBC series starring Sheridan Smith, as people say it’s the ‘show of the year’ and has some ‘unexpectedly’ funny moments

A new BBC crime thriller series could be your next obsession. If you’re looking for a new series to sink your teeth into, then forget about Netflix and Amazon Prime Video – as a new series now available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer has already been touted as one of the best shows of 2026.

The five-part series stars Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha, and according to people on social media, it is both gripping and “unexpectedly funny”. With only five episodes, it’s the perfect thing to binge this weekend – especially if you’re looking for a “high-stakes” show with tension and laughter.

TV and film reviewer Emily posted a video on TikTok in which she heaped praise on the new series, called The Cage, stating that fans of crime dramas should “get this one on your watch list” immediately.

She said: “We have a brand-new high-stakes crime thriller that the BBC have just dropped, starring Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha. So if you love a good crime thriller, then definitely get this one on your watch list.”

The Cage is set in a casino in Liverpool, where two casino workers named Leanne (Smith) and Matty (Socha) realise they have both plotted to steal from the same safe.

Emily explained: “It’s all about two employees who are both secretly stealing from the same safe without knowing that the other exists. What starts off as a quick way to make extra money turns into something far more dangerous when their lives collide, pulling them into a situation involving crime, pressure, and people that they really do not want to be involved with. From then on, everything just keeps spiralling.”

The TV reviewer said she hasn’t yet finished the series herself, but she’s already “hooked” after just two episodes.

She continued: “I have watched the first two episodes so far, and I am hooked. It’s really tense, gritty, unpredictable, and you have this constant sense that something could go wrong at any moment, which really raises the stakes. It also really leans into desperation and bad decisions, and how quickly things can spiral, even if you think you have a plan.”

The Cage was created by Tony Schumacher, who also created the BBC police drama The Responder, which starred Martin Freeman as a police officer who has been demoted from his position as an inspector and takes on a series of night shifts in Liverpool city centre.

Alongside Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha, The Cage also stars Barry Sloane, Geraldine James, and Sue Jenkins. The show was directed by Al Mackay and was filmed in Liverpool and Merseyside in early 2025.

Commenters on Emily’s video were split over the series. Some said they had already seen it and found it to be “slow”, while others said it was “unexpectedly” good.

One person said: “Watched it all over the past two nights, really, really good. Would recommend it.”

Someone else posted: “This is really good. Unexpectedly, it was quite funny in parts.”

But another wasn’t convinced, writing: “I’ve watched the first episode, [and] it needs to get better. I will try one more, but if it hasn’t grabbed me, that will be me done.”

A fourth shared: “Watching it now. [It’s] a bit slow.”

BBC’s new crime drama starring Sheridan Smith has been a hit with viewers

BBC viewers are already hooked on the new crime drama starring Sheridan Smith.

The Cage recently made its debut onto our TV screens and a number of fans have already binge-watched all five episodes with many calling for another season.

It comes as no surprise that viewers are gripped on the show. Not only is the cast lead by BAFTA-winner Sheridan but its creator is the BAFTA-winning Tony Schumacher, who created the acclaimed police drama The Responder.

Alongside Sheridan, her co-star Michael Socha also leads the cast of the popular series, which follows two financially struggling Liverpool casino employees who end up confronting dangerous local criminals and the authorities after siphoning money from the casino safe.

Shot in and around Liverpool and Merseyside, the narrative centres on Leanne (Sheridan), a single mother and casino cashier who begins siphoning cash from the safe to rescue her family home.

However, when she discovers that her boss Matty (Muchael), a gambling addict, is engaged in the same activity, both of their lives begin to unravel.

The duo forge an unexpected alliance to conceal their theft, but quickly become entangled with local gangsters and the police.

The synopsis states: “Leanne is the charismatic cashier at an inner-city casino who finds herself threatened with losing the family home and starts skimming cash from the casino safe to secure her family’s future.

“When Leanne discovers her boss Matty is doing the same thing, their lives are set on a collision course; with each other, the local gangster they’re stealing from, and the police.

“As Leanne’s loyalties are pulled in different directions, Matty battles with his inner demons meaning the pair will have to play every hand perfectly.”

Viewers have wasted no time sharing their reaction as one viewer said: “I just finished watching it, so good. I hope they have a season 2.”

Another wrote: “#thecage Just finished binge watching this series and loved it. Great cast especially the performance of Michael Socha.Some great music in there as well.”

A third commented: “Binged The Cage in one sitting, fantastic show! Well done all involved.” Another said: “Binged the whole series tonight. I really enjoyed it, proper good British drama and great cast/performances,”

Meanwhile another added: “Loved it!! It was so good had me on the edge of my seat.” While another called for a second season, writing: “Michael and Sheridan were absolutely phenomenal, can’t wait for series 2?”

You can stream The Cage on BBC iPlayer

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire viewers were left in hysterics after Roman Dubowski won the £1 million jackpot on Sunday night.

ITV viewers were left stunned as a contestant scooped the jackpot on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

On Sunday evening (April 26), Jeremy Clarkson returned to host a brand new group of hopefuls, each dreaming of walking away with the £1million top prize.

As Stockport resident and retired IT Analyst Roman Dubowski settled into the hot seat, many viewers at home predicted he would bow out early after burning through two of his lifelines in the opening rounds.

Yet, after a nerve-shredding series of questions, Roman found himself just one question away from a life-changing sum of money.

Jeremy put it to him: “Used since 1876, which trademarked logo is described in the James Joyce novel’ Ulysses’ and depicted in works by Manet and Picasso, reports the Express.

Answering Bass Ale, after using his 50-50 lifeline, Jeremy told him that he was current and had just become a millionaire.

Thrilled for his win, Jeremy said: “That’s fantastic! It happened so quickly, I don’t even know what to say, and you did it without my help!”

When quizzed on how he felt, Roman responded: “It doesn’t feel real at the moment. It hasn’t quite sunk in; it’s one of those slow-motion things that will probably sink in a little later today. But at the moment, I just take things one at a time.”

The victory marks the first time anyone has claimed the million-pound jackpot in six years, making Roman the seventh winner of the top prize in the UK version of the show.

However, users on X were swift to remark on Roman’s substantial victory after he deployed a lifeline remarkably early in the programme, unaware that egg was a fundamental ingredient in mayonnaise.

One viewer said: “What a decent bloke, absolute TV gold £1,000,000.” Someone else contributed: “I did not anticipate that, given how it started!”

Another person wrote: “There was me mugging him off because he didn’t know the mayonnaise question.” One viewer shared: “Can’t believe this guy just won a million pounds and didn’t know egg yolk went in mayonnaise – what a guy!”

Someone else remarked: “Didn’t know what was in Mayonnaise and leaves with £1M fairs.” Another chimed in: “What are the chances.. he didn’t know there were eggs in Mayo but knew all that other random s**t”

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is available to watch on ITVX.

The tense series features an A-list cast and left viewers hooked by the tense plot.

A gripping thriller that left viewers on the edge of their seats is free to binge.

The Widow is available to watch on ITVX, and stars Kate Beckinsale in a tense role.

It follows the Underworld actress as Georgia Wells, who has believed her husband died in a plane crash.

However, three years later, having lived as a recluse and grieving widow, she sees him in a news report following a riot in the Democratic Republic of Congo and hunts to find him, travelling to Kinshasa for the truth.

As she looks for answers, she’s left questioning why her husband may have faked his own death.

The synopsis teases: “Kate Beckinsale leads as a grieving woman in this gripping drama.”

It adds: “A woman’s search to uncover the mystery of what happened to her husband leads her to the Congo, where she’s forced to seek the truth about what happened to the man she loved.”

The series first aired on Amazon Prime Video in 2019, before being added to the free streaming service.

Parts of The Widow were filmed in South Africa, with Kate suffering from the heat and later revealing she “fainted” while filming because it was “really, really, really hot”.

The cast also included Game of Thrones star Charles Dance, Strictly star Alex Kingston, Olafur Darri Olafsson, Matthew Le Nevez, and Shetland actress Louise Brealey.

Viewers were left hooked by the programme, with one admitting they were “glued to this show”, while several others echoed that they “binged” it.

Another person said: “It kept me on the edge of my seat each show. I really enjoyed the series.”

Reflecting several fans’ pleas for a second season, one person said: “The acting and cinematics are phenomenal. I cannot wait to see season 2!!”

“It was thrilling and entertaining,” someone else said, as another called it “nail-biting”.

Someone else called it “absolutely magnificent”, adding: “The setting was breathtaking and the dialogue was phenomenal.”

Yet another hailed Kate’s “outstanding” performance, while one person added: “A bit slow to start but a gem of a series.”

Despite fans begging for a second season, writers Harry and Jack Williams previously told Express.co.uk that they have no plans to take it forward.

They explained: “By the time we get to the end, it’s a one-off. It’s very satisfying. There’s no secret pilot. There’s no following season.

“It’s really exciting for the eight parts, it’s almost like a movie really.”

The writing duo and brothers behind The Missing and Liar continued: “I think there isn’t scope for more.”

The Widow is available to watch on ITVX

Britain’s Got Talent viewers complained about one act tonight, calling it inappropriate for family viewing

Britain’s Got Talent viewers have voiced the same grievance, urging ITV bosses to “do better” following an “utterly inappropriate” act.

The beloved ITV talent programme has returned to screens once again with a brand new series, featuring BGT judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI, alongside legendary hosts Ant and Dec.

Tonight (April 18) marked the final round of auditions, but one particular act left viewers at home feeling “sick” and outraged. Fakir Testa, 45, was welcomed onto the stage, leaving both the audience and judges curious about what his performance might involve – and no-one could have guessed.

Viewers at home were quickly horrified to witness him standing on blades while having them pressed against his neck, prompting ITV to issue a ‘do not try at home’ warning.

Admitting she was “stressed”, judge Alesha pressed her red button, joined by Simon, who appeared distinctly unimpressed by the performance, reports Wales Online.

Members of the audience were also spotted turning away and peeking through their fingers, while judge Amanda buried her face in her hands.

Nevertheless, Fakir proceeded to invite Simon onto the stage, requesting he take a seat in a waiting car, before hauling it with a blade pressed against his neck.

The audience seemed to watch on in sheer horror, yet the act proved popular with the Blackpool crowd, as KSI was overheard exclaiming: “You madman, you crazy madman.”

However, viewers at home remained thoroughly unimpressed, as they directed their frustration squarely at ITV bosses. Taking to X, one person wrote: “WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK IS THIS? #BGT.” Another said: “This is NOT a family show #bgt.”

A third fumed: “F***s sake. This is on pre watershed. Do better #itv.” A fourth commented: “This is NOT talent! This is f***** lunacy.”

A fifth echoed: “I can’t watch! Why are they showing this for family entertainment #BGT ?!!?”

One viewer admitted they felt “sick” while another confessed they “can’t watch”. One person labelled it as “utterly inappropriate” as another added: “There are far too many of these Don’t try this at home stunts on #bgt . How about don’t show them on the Tele?”

However, one impressed viewer enthused: “Faki Testa – oh my days that was strange so hard to watch but b****y brilliant entertainment.”

Another offered an explanation: “The blade has to move sideways to cut or use a large amount of energy to chop My Kung Fu teacher had us do this, including spears in our throats, back in the day #BGT.”

Judge Alesha also appeared to reverse her earlier red buzzer decision as Fakir successfully made it through his audition.

Britain’s Got Talent can be streamed on ITVX