Sheridan stars in new TV role tonight

Epworth star Sheridan Smith is set to appear in a new three part detective drama which starts this evening.
Sheridan in her new role.Sheridan in her new role.
Sheridan in her new role.

The 33-year-old plays Jo Gillespie, a Leeds city police officer whose undercover policeman husband is murdered, in Black Work.

PC Gillespie is expected to leave the investigation to her colleagues, but finds herself losing trust in them and goes behind their backs to track down the killer herself.

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However, her investigation places her and her children in jeopardy.

The show also stars Sharon Duce, Geraldine James and Douglas Henshall.

Former Two Pints of Lager and A Packet of Crisps actress Sheridan won a Bafta in 2013 for playing a Great Train Robber’s wife in Mrs Biggs, and recently picked up another nomination for her performance in Cilla.

But her role in The C Word was the one that received particular high acclaim. The one-off drama, which also starred Paul Nicholls, Haydn Gwynne and Michael Maloney, was based on the book by Lisa Lynch, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.

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Before her death in 2013 at the age of just 33, Lisa worked closely with writer Nicole Taylor and the BBC on this adaptation, and was involved in the casting process.

Former South Axholme School pupil, Sheridan, whose parents Marilyn and Colin Smith still live in Station Road in Epworth, often returns to her roots.

She received a top honour earlier this year when she collected her OBE at Buckingham Palace, and one of her biggest fans is the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William.

She said: “I did say I don’t feel as worthy as so many of the recipients, but thank you so much, it’s a huge honour. He said he’d seen some of my work, which is amazing, and was a fan of Gavin And Stacey.”

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Sheridan started her career as a member of Doncaster Little Theatre and her first professional gig was aged just six, at Doncaster’s Civic Theatre, where she played Annie alongside her mum and dad.

* Tune into Black Work on Sunday, ITV, 9pm.

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