Sam Cook scrubs floors at Canary Wharf's Kramer Lowe for contractor Xenco Clean, trapped on a zero-hours wage while online gambling debts mount and her ex-husband circles for full custody of their daughters. After she overhears stockbroker Blake being blackmailed over illegal trades, she copies his tips and starts placing her own bets on the market, feeding cash to loan shark Warren and keeping social services at bay.
Sheridan Smith carries the six-part ITV thriller as the quick-witted south-London mum who realises the invisibility of cleaners is a weapon; Jade Anouka and Branka Katić play fellow cleaners who get pulled into the scheme, while Rosie Cavaliero’s compliance officer sniffs around the leaks. Creator Mark Marlow, a first-time writer, pitched the drama through Sister Pictures with the tag-line “Wall Street meets the gig economy”; Guy Garvey’s guitar score underlines the rush of each illicit trade.
The series aired from 9 January to 13 February 2019, drew solid if not spectacular ratings, and was quickly optioned for remakes in France and South Korea. Critics praised Smith’s grounded performance yet winced at the plot coincidences required to keep Sam ahead of both the FCA and her creditors.
Production Details
ITV1 / 1 Season / 6 Episodes / 2019
Created by: Mark Marlow
Writer(s): Mark Marlow
Producer(s): Karen Lewis
Main Cast
Sheridan Smith as Sam
Matthew McNulty as Dave
Branka Katić as Mina
Rosie Cavaliero as Frances
Neil Maskell as Warren
Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Jake
Kristy Philipps as Alice
Daryl McCormack as Ryan
Stephen Whitfield as Martin Smith
