Sheridan Smith has been cast in Clean Break, a new six part ITV series about “an ordinary working class woman” who is caught between two worlds – the everyday life of a devoted and loving Mum and the darker, dangerous world of insider trading.
Sassy office cleaner Sam (Smith) is one of an invisible army of cleaners on a zero hours contract who mop, sweep and vacuum in the early hours. Struggling with an on-line gambling addiction, Sam realises she has access to lucrative Stock Market information which if used correctly could be the answer to all her prayers.
With her husband threatening to take custody of their two daughters, Sam is being backed into a corner and needs to come out fighting.
Getting back to black is going to be tough and Sam is about to stake everything on the unpredictable world of the Stock Market.
With her trusted band of cleaners gleaning information while the rest of the world sleeps, and in the knowledge insider trading is against the law will Sam tread this dangerous line? Smart, and witty, can Sam overcome her addictive personality?
“I am delighted to be commissioning Mark Marlow’s first drama,” said ITV Head of Drama Polly Hill.
“It’s such a wonderful script that finds real humour and joy in the human struggle to survive. Sheridan is perfect for the role of Sam and I’m thrilled she’s returning to ITV to play her.”
Produced by Sister Pictures, the drama indie launched by former Kudos Chief Executive Jane Featherstone in January 2016, Clean Break has been created by screenwriting newcomer Mark Marlow.
The series will be executive produced by Jane Featherstone (Broadchurch, Humans, River, Spooks) and Chris Fry (Humans, The Smoke, Spooks) and directed by Lewis Arnold (Humans, Broadchurch, Misfits, Banana) who has also developed the drama with Mark Marlow.
Featherstone added: “It’s such a pleasure to be making a show for ITV about contemporary Britain with a strong and complicated female lead character.
“It’s also enormously gratifying that this comes from an exceptional brand new voice, Mark, and a brilliant up and coming director, Lewis Arnold. Expect it to be moving, funny and surprising.”
Clean Break will be filmed in the London area during the autumn of 2017.
