Acclaimed Northern actress Sheridan Smith will return to the small screen tonight in new ITV drama No Return, with Manchester-based executive producers at the helm of the project. Following the huge success of Manchester-born writer Danny Brocklehurst’s previous projects – such as Brassic, Shameless, The Stranger and Safe – ITV officially commissioned the brand new drama back in 2020, and it’s said to be absolutely ‘gripping’.
The new four-part series follows a family while on their idyllic holiday to Turkey, which soon turns into a living nightmare for Kathy (Sheridan Smith) when she and her husband Martin are left fighting for their teenage son, Noah’s, freedom after he’s accused of a serious crime.
The synopsis reads: “Looking forward to an all-inclusive luxury break to enjoy the sun and sea with the family, Kathy and Martin, their son Noah and younger daughter Jess are blissfully unaware of the horrific ordeal about to unfold.
“The holiday is a chance to unwind and for Kathy and Martin to spend some much-needed family time. Until unsuspecting Noah accepts a seemingly innocent invitation to a beach party from a fellow holidaymaker, Rosie, who is staying at the same hotel, and Kathy and Martin’s world spectacularly falls apart.
“An arrest, an expensive and alien legal system, looming media coverage and resistance from fellow holidaymakers to come to their aid leaves the distraught parents fighting for Noah’s freedom when ironically he should be at school sitting his latest exams.”
Speaking of the show, Manchester writer Danny Brocklehurst commented: “No Return is truly a passion project for me. It’s the story of a family caught in a modern nightmare but it allows us to explore themes of parenthood, justice, addiction and consent. I am delighted to be working with the amazing Sheridan Smith and once again partnering with ITV, and the brilliant Nicola Shindler…”
No Return airs on ITV tonight at 9pm.