Sheridan Smith's BBC Drama 'The Cage' Axed After One Series
Despite strong viewership and critical praise for Smith's performance, the crime drama will not return for a second season.
Sheridan Smith's BBC crime drama, The Cage, has been canceled after its first season, according to reports. The five-part series, which premiered on BBC One on April 26, garnered approximately three million viewers and received praise for Smith's performance, with audiences describing it as "superb."
A source indicated that while viewers were invested in the storyline and praised the cast, the BBC's decision to not renew the show is part of its strategy to make room for new and returning dramas. "The BBC has to make way for new and returning dramas and not everything can become a long-runner," the source told The Sun.
The drama was written by Tony Schumacher, known for the police drama The Responder. The plot of The Cage centered on two Liverpool casino workers, Leanne, played by Smith, and Matty, played by Michael Socha, who discover they are both stealing from the same safe.
Schumacher's other upcoming projects are still in development. Series three of his drama Time is slated to launch in October, with further work from him and production team Element Pictures including the second series of Nightsleeper and a new David Nicholls series titled You Are Here.
This is not the first time a series starring Smith has been canceled after a single season. Her previous shows, The 7:39, Cleaning Up, and The Castaways, also did not proceed beyond their initial runs.
Smith also experienced a premature ending for her West End musical, Opening Night, in 2024. The production was canceled two months ahead of its scheduled July 27 closing date at the Gielgud Theatre in London. Producers cited a "challenging financial landscape" for the decision, adding that the play "may not have had the life we had hoped for."
Smith had publicly encouraged audiences to attend the musical after it received negative reviews from critics and some theatergoers who reportedly walked out during performances. Despite her appeal, the play, directed by Ivo Van Hove with music by Rufus Wainwright, did not achieve the desired audience turnout, with producers acknowledging it was "always a risk."