Sheridan Smith is one of those brilliant actors who truly morphs into whatever project they're doing. Whether it's a true crime adaptation like I Fought The Law or in a hilarious comedic role like Gavin & Stacey, we really love seeing her on screen.
And if you haven't watched The Teacher yet, it's definitely one to add to your must-watch list - not least because it's available to binge-watch in full now.
The faultless performances comes in a gripping story about a teacher who is accused of having sex with a student - but has no recollection of it - and must delve into herself to figure out what really happened.
What is The Teacher about?
Sheridan plays Jenna, a well-regarded English teacher whose life unravels when she is accused of having a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old student while under the influence of alcohol. Jenna has no recollection of what happened on the night, and so must try to uncover the truth about what really happened, in hopes of redeeming herself.
Speaking about her character in the show, Sheridan told the Express she thinks Jenna is "a bit naïve" in the show, explaining, "She tries to be a mate to her students, which is her undoing in the end. There are teacher-student boundaries, and she has maybe let that slip. And then, of course, her life outside of the classroom is chaotic.
"I really hope people don't know what to think about her. There were scenes where I was thinking, ‘This is so terrible, you'd be fired immediately.' Her actions didn't sit right with me, but I enjoyed playing them as well. It will make incredibly uncomfortable viewing, and you won’t know if you like her or not."
Who else is in the cast of The Teacher?
As well as Sheridan playing Jenna, the cast includes:
- Samuel Bottomley plays Kyle Hope, the 15-year-old student who accuses Jenna of the crime
- Karen Henthorn plays DI Sowerby, the detective investigating the case
- Kelvin Fletcher plays Jack – Jenna's boyfriend but also colleague
- Sharon Rooney plays Nina – a fellow teacher at the school
- Cecilia Noble plays Pauline, another one of Jenna's colleagues
- David Fleeshman plays Roger Garvey, Jenna's father and a retired teacher in his own right
- Sarah-Jane Potts plays Kyle's mother, Mary Hope
- Tillie Amartey plays Izzy, one of Jenna's pupils
Where can you watch The Teacher?
The Teacher is actually available to watch in a number of places, including Disney+. But viewers in the UK can watch it for free right now on Channel 5. There are four episodes, all of which are around 45 minutes long.
What are reviews of The Teacher like?
The Telegraph said "Sheridan Smith excels as the tutor you wouldn't let near your teenage sons. Smith brings a likeability to all of her characters, without hiding their flaws. Here she plays Jenna, who is a dedicated teacher – judging by her promotion to head of English at the beginning of the show – but an absolute shambles on every other account."
The Times added, "Did you think The Teacher was sometimes theatrical and implausible? Did you find yourself yelling at the screen: 'But a secondary school teacher would never wear a skirt as short as that in the presence of teenage boys'? Me too. Did you also find it highly entertaining and totally moreish? Hell yes, me too."
What happens in The Teacher season 2?
The Teacher is an anthology, which means each series focusses on a slightly different story but with a common theme. Sheridan excels in season one, and hands over the reigns for season two.
The follow up season centres around art teacher Dani Oxley (played by Kara Tointon), whose life begins to crumble when she sneaks off with colleague Jimmy (Will Mellor) during a school trip, and a student goes missing and is later found dead. After lying to police to cover up the affair, Dani is forced into a web of lies and destruction.
