Screw is a British prison drama series starring Nina Sosanya and Jamie-Lee O'Donnell. The series was produced by STV Studios and first broadcast on Channel 4 on 6 January 2022. The second series was released on 30 August 2023. On 4 February 2024, it was announced by Ben Tavassoli that Channel 4 had cancelled the series.[1][2]
| Screw | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | Rob Williams |
| Starring |
|
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 12 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Rob Williams Sarah Brown |
| Producer | Brian Kaczynski |
| Production company | STV Studios |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 6 January 2022 – 14 September 2023 |
Plot
editSeries 1 follows two prison officers and their colleagues, working in C-Wing of men's prison, Long Marsh. Leigh Henry struggles to maintain control of her wing. New recruit Rose Gill arrives and is soon caught up in a gun smuggling operation in order to save her brother from a ruthless gang to whom he owes a drug debt.
Series 2 continues in the aftermath of the dramatic events at the end of the first series. Officer Henry learns that an undercover police officer has been placed on the wing. But who is it? And why are they there?
Cast
edit- Jamie-Lee O'Donnell as Rose Gill
- Nina Sosanya as Leigh Henry
- Faraz Ayub as Ali Shah
- Laura Checkley as Jackie Stokes
- Stephen Wight as Gary Campbell
- Ron Donachie as Don Carpenter
- Bill Blackwood as Tony Tanner
- Mark Newsome as Streaky
- Jake Davies as Stephen Childs
- Nicholas Lumley as Larry
- Ben Tavassoli as Louis Costa
- Jorden Myrie as Raheem Bennett
- Jack McMullen as Connor Joyce
Production
editThe series was inspired by creator Rob Williams's work with prisons. Kelvin Hall film studio, Glasgow and Peterhead Prison in Scotland were used as the filming locations.[3]
Episodes
edit| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | Average viewership (in millions) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 6 | 6 January 2022 | 10 February 2022 | 2.87 | |
| 2 | 6 | 30 August 2023 | 14 September 2023 | TBA | |
Series 1 (2022)
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Tom Vaughan | Rob Williams | 6 January 2022 | 4.03 |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Tom Vaughan | Rob Williams | 13 January 2022 | 2.94 |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Tom Vaughan | Rob Williams | 20 January 2022 | 2.84 |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Jordan Hogg | Karla Crome | 27 January 2022 | 2.61 |
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Jordan Hogg | Roanne Bardsley | 3 February 2022 | 2.44 |
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Jordan Hogg | Rob Williams | 10 February 2022 | 2.36 |
Series 2 (2023)
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Tom Vaughan | Rob Williams | 30 August 2023 | N/A |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Tom Vaughan | Rob Williams | 31 August 2023 | N/A |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Tom Vaughan | Rob Williams | 6 September 2023 | N/A |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Rebecca Rycroft | Roanne Bardsley | 7 September 2023 | N/A |
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Rebecca Rycroft | Ciara Conway | 13 September 2023 | N/A |
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Rebecca Rycroft | Rob Williams | 14 September 2023 | N/A |
Release
editScrew was first broadcast on Channel 4 on 6 January 2022.[4][5][6]
The second series went to air on 30 August 2023.[7]
Reception
editRebecca Nicholson for The Guardian gave it four out of five and said: "(Screw) settles somewhere between soap and Sunday night blockbuster, and I mean that as a compliment. This is broad and warm and welcoming, with enough of a sharp side to make it worth sticking with."[8] The Times also gave it four out of five and praised the use of humour.[9]
References
edit- ^ Tavassoli, Ben (4 February 2024). ""unfortunate news that this is where our journey ends for Screw. want to thank you guys so much for tuning in. All your kind words went a long way. love everyone who was part of the show, very lucky to have made dear friends for life"". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Scott, Ella (5 February 2024). "Channel 4 fans fume 'it's a shame' as prison drama axed after just two series". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Meet the cast of Channel 4 prison drama Screw". Radio Times. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Cormack, Morgan (10 December 2021). "Channel 4's Screw: new trailer for tense new prison drama". Stylist. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Channel 4 Announces New 6-Part Drama Series: Screw". Channel 4. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Creamer, Jon (27 August 2020). "C4 orders prison drama from STV and Victim writer Williams". Televisual. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Buglass, Lucy (21 July 2022). "Screw season 2: release date, cast, plot and everything we know". whattowatch.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Screw review – a warm, witty welcome to hell!". the Guardian. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Midgley, Carol. "Screw review — humour behind bars, but this is no Porridge 2".