Sheridan Smith Is Having a British Drama Comeback
With BBC’s The Cage, Sheridan Smith is firmly back at the centre of the best British dramas conversation. The five-part BBC crime series, created by The Responder writer Tony Schumacher, follows casino cashier Leanne Chapel and her colleague Matty as they secretly skim money from the Liverpool casino where they work, only to realise they are both stealing from the same dangerous local gangster. It’s tense, character-driven and rooted in working-class lives, the kind of British crime drama that keeps you glued to the screen. For UK viewers, The Cage is currently on BBC iPlayer, while international fans may spot it on BBC platforms or via VPN access. If you have raced through all five episodes and feel that familiar post-binge void, there are several Sheridan Smith dramas on Netflix that deliver the same emotional punch in very different packages.
1. Mrs Biggs – A ‘Compelling’ Period Crime Series on Netflix
If The Cage left you wanting more layered, morally complex storytelling, start with Mrs Biggs, often singled out as one of the standout Sheridan Smith dramas on Netflix. This period crime series casts Smith as Charmian Biggs, wife of notorious Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs. Written by Jeff Pope in collaboration with the real Charmian, it tracks her journey from innocent young woman to mother of three, then partner of one of Britain’s most infamous criminals, forced to go on the run after Ronnie’s £2.61 million robbery and dramatic escape. Across five episodes, Mrs Biggs shifts from romance to thriller to intimate character study. Viewers have praised it as “compelling” and “powerful”, with one fan admitting they “couldn’t stop watching” once it started. The tone is more reflective and historical than The Cage, yet it scratches the same itch for flawed characters trapped by bad choices.
How Mrs Biggs Compares to The Cage for Your Next Binge
The Cage Netflix buzz has reminded many viewers how versatile Sheridan Smith is when it comes to British crime drama. While The Cage is contemporary and claustrophobic, unfolding in Liverpool’s casino underworld, Mrs Biggs plays out over years and continents as a period crime series rooted in a real-life heist. Both shows are compact five-part dramas, ideal for a focused weekend binge rather than a long, sprawling series. Tonally, The Cage piles on suspense as Leanne and Matty’s thefts collide with gangsters and police; Mrs Biggs leans into emotion, sacrifice and the cost of loyalty. Yet fans of the BBC thriller will recognise the same intense character focus and moral ambiguity. For Malaysian viewers and others using regional catalogues or VPNs, Mrs Biggs is currently listed on Netflix in multiple regions, making it one of the easiest Sheridan Smith dramas to queue up immediately after finishing The Cage.
Where to Watch Sheridan Smith’s Best British Dramas Now
To keep your Sheridan Smith streak going, start with what is readily available. The Cage is streaming as a five-part BBC crime drama on BBC iPlayer for UK audiences, showcasing Smith as single mum and casino cashier Leanne Chapel, whose life unravels when she and her manager Matty are caught up in theft, gangsters and police attention. On Netflix, Mrs Biggs offers another five-episode helping of high-quality British crime storytelling with a period twist, ideal for viewers who enjoyed The Cage’s tension but want a change of pace and setting. Availability can vary between Netflix regions, but Malaysian viewers and others in Southeast Asia often access UK and US catalogues via VPNs, where Mrs Biggs is currently promoted as a must-watch. Together, these titles highlight why Sheridan Smith remains a go-to name for fans seeking the best British dramas with heart, grit and unforgettable characters.
