ITV have today announced their commission of a brand new six-part series, created and written by Mark Marlow and starring BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith.
Sheridan Smith / Credit: FAMOUS
Titled Clean Break, the drama will focus on “ordinary working class woman, Sam, who is caught between two worlds – the everyday life of a devoted and loving Mum and the darker, dangerous world of insider trading.”
Smith plays office cleaner Sam, who’s described as “one of an invisible army of cleaners on a zero hours contract who mop, sweep and vacuum in the early hours. Struggling with an online gambling addiction, Sam realises she has access to lucrative Stock Market information which if used correctly could be the answer to all her prayers.”
Money isn’t the only problem facing Sam, who is facing a custody battle for her two daughters – 14-year-old Alice and 8-year-old Lily – with her husband.
Clean Break is set in Canary Wharf, contrasting that shiny world with the one of modern suburbia and promises to explore “how far Sam will go to survive, claw back some self-respect and get her life back on track.”
Head of Drama at ITV, Polly Hill said of the commission: “I am delighted to be commissioning Mark Marlow’s first drama. 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 Jane and Sister Pictures, it’s a fantastic team and promises to be a real treat for our audience.”
Jane Featherstone, founded of Sister Pictures 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 filming in the London area during autumn of this year.