Before real-life ITV drama I Fought the Law, Sheridan Smith dominated our screens in a watchable thriller hinging on a false accusation.
Smith leads the cast of twisty thriller The Teacher, now in its second season. The series is in the ‘worth the wait’ section on Netflix, where it will become available to stream from 14 October.
Released in 2022, the Channel 5 drama series follows Smith’s titular teacher, Jenna Garvey, as she faces a nightmarish charge.
What to Read Next
A brilliant and popular teacher with a messy personal life, Jenna is accused of having had sex with a 15-year-old student, Kyle Hope (Samuel Bottomley), after a drunken night out.
Series 2, which aired in 2024, focuses on a different story. The plot follows art teacher Dani Oxley (Kara Tointon) who embarks on an affair with a colleague during a school trip. When a student goes missing, Dani becomes entangled in a web of lies to protect her secret relationship.
Galgóczi Németh Kristóf / Chalkboard TV//Channel 5
Related: Best streaming services
Recently renewed for a third season, The Teacher has a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes out of 9 reviews.
Critics have praised Smith’s performance in the “far-fetched” series, with The Herald writing: “Smith powered on through the increasingly far-fetched tale, taking the audience with her, right up to the ambiguous ending. What would television drama do without her?’
Galgóczi Németh Kristóf / Chalkboard TV//Channel 5
The Daily Telegraph similarly celebrated Smith’s “star turn” in their review, writing: “A premise that grabs you, a watchable star turn, and a plot so simple that your dog could follow it.”
Elsewhere, The Sunday Independent noted that Smith “was terrific as always” and The Teacher “did exactly what it said on the tin,” while BBC.com seemed unconvinced by the “one-dimensional” characters.
The Teacher becomes available to stream on Netflix on 14 October.
The new edition of Living Legends is here! Buy Gaga in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.Â
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).Â