Sheridan Smith to lead new ITV1 thriller Two Birds

She'll play a recently widowed British Police Constable, who arrives in Australia with the intent of a fresh start and a new life.

ITV1 has announced Two Birds, a compelling new six-part exhilarating mystery thriller starring Sheridan Smith in the leading role, and is set and filmed in Western Australia.

Written by Helen FitzGerald, Two Birds is set against the rarely-seen-on-screen landscape of Kalgoorlie, a remote Australian mining town carved from red earth, where rusted shafts and weatherboard pubs fade into endless bush, this harsh, beautiful, and isolating world clings tightly to its secrets.

The series centres on British Police Constable Izzie Cornwell, played by Sheridan Smith, who arrives in the small fictional town of Dugdale having been recently widowed and intent on a fresh start and a new life in Australia.

Focused upon chasing away her grief, Izzie hopes to reconnect with her sister who moved to the Kalgoorlie area with her Australian husband, and most important of all, to rebuild trust with her twenty-year-old daughter, who is scared by her mother’s recent destructive behaviour.

Izzie is assigned to investigate a murder alongside her new boss Matt, a Homicide Detective from Perth, played by Stephen Peacocke. When the victim is revealed to be part of a notorious local crime family, led by the formidable Mrs Baxter, played by Judy Davis, the stakes intensify.

Determined to protect her family and uncover the truth, Mrs Baxter exerts fierce pressure on the case.

But the night before Izzie joins the case, one reckless last hurrah goes disastrously wrong and a split-second decision results in consequences Izzie can’t undo, forcing her into a secret she must do everything to contain.

Two Birds also features an ensemble Australian cast, including Judy Davis and Stephen Peacocke.

Talking about her latest role, Sheridan Smith said "I'm thrilled to be playing the irresistibly complex Izzie Cornwell who is in search of new beginnings in Australia. Helen FitzGerald has created a dream role for me, as Izzie, through no fault of her own, becomes embroiled in a web of secrets and lies."

"I'm also looking forward to returning to film in Australia and working with the team at AC Chapter One, ITV and STAN, Australia as we bring Two Birds to life."

Made by AC Chapter One, and co-produced by STAN, Australia, Two Birds is written by Helen FitzGerald, with Megan Palinkas writing an episode, produced by Martha Coleman for Third Act Stories, directed by James Griffiths, with Corrie Chen directing three episodes, and will be executive produced by Patrick Spence for AC Chapter One alongside Andy Ryan and Donna Chang for STAN, Australia and James Griffiths, Helen FitzGerald and Luke Speed.

Speaking about Two Birds, Patrick Spence on behalf of AC Chapter One, said "Helen FitzGerald has a voice any producer would kill for: unique, challenging and mischievous. We are all so proud to be bringing her work to the screen."

To which Helen FitzGerald added "I’ve been dreaming about Izzie Cornwell and Mrs Baxter in my head for years now, they are the most personal characters I have ever created. I asked Griff if we could try for Sheridan and Judy to play them, and he only came back with them both! Two Birds, indeed. So, this really is a dream come true for me."

Filming will begin this Spring in Perth and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and will be the first to film in the brand-new Perth Film Studios.

The series is being supported by Screenwest via the Government of Western Australia’s Production Attraction Incentive, designed to attract high-profile, market-driven footloose screen productions to Western Australia.

Two Birds will air on ITV1