Channel 5's New Thriller Missed Call Premieres with Stellar Cast Led by Joanna Scanlan
Channel 5 is set to captivate audiences with its latest gripping thriller, Missed Call, which premieres tonight at 9pm. The four-part drama, described as every parent's worst nightmare, features an impressive ensemble cast headlined by acclaimed British actress Joanna Scanlan.
A Mother's Desperate Search in France
In Missed Call, Scanlan portrays Sarah Gleason, a single mother whose world collapses when her daughter Katie vanishes during a school exchange trip to France. The drama unfolds over four consecutive evenings, with each episode heightening the tension as Sarah's search becomes increasingly desperate.
The story begins with Katie's arrival in France, where she's placed with the respected Morvan family. Their daughter Emma welcomes Katie with polite but noticeably reserved hospitality. While Sarah enjoys a quiet weekend at home, Katie becomes immersed in the local student social scene, where parties and underlying tensions create an atmosphere of unease.
The crisis begins when Sarah receives a late-night missed call from her daughter. When Katie fails to respond to Sarah's increasingly frantic messages, and reassurances from the host family, school, and supervising teacher prove insufficient, Sarah takes matters into her own hands.
Escalating Tensions and Chilling Developments
Sarah's journey to the French village where Katie was last seen reveals disturbing indifference from the local community. As her fears intensify, a mysterious message from Katie's phone transforms her anxiety into something far more sinister.
Joanna Scanlan shared her perspective on the drama, stating: "It's a powerful story about every mother's worst fear, set in a place that's stunningly beautiful but weirdly unsettling." She elaborated on her character's experience: "Sarah's gut feeling is that everybody's got something to hide and they're lying to her. It seems to Sarah that Katie fell into the hands of cold, rich, snotty French people who seem really unbothered about what's happened."
The Complete Cast of Missed Call
Joanna Scanlan as Sarah Gleason
Joanna Scanlan brings her considerable talent to the role of protagonist Sarah Gleason. The actress, known for her work in Requiem, The Woman In White, No Offence, The Larkins, and Apple TV's acclaimed drama Slow Horses, described her character as "a fairly ordinary, relatable, single mum."
Scanlan explained the drama's premise: "At the beginning of the drama she's seeing her daughter Katie off for a fairly ordinary French exchange trip with the school and then after a few slightly uneasy days, she gets a missed call in the night and a message that says, 'Help me, Mum.'"
Claire Keim as Virginie Taylor
French actress Claire Keim portrays Virginie Taylor, a member of the local police force who shows genuine concern about Katie's disappearance. While British audiences might remember her from a small role in Highlander: The Series in 1992, Keim is better known in France for starring in the popular miniseries Zodiaque and providing French voice work for Zootropolis and Monsters, Inc.
In Missed Call, her character offers support to Sarah, though viewers will need to watch closely to determine whether she can truly be trusted.
Robert Lindsay as Andrew Taylor
British television veteran Robert Lindsay takes on the role of Andrew Taylor, a mysterious character Sarah encounters in the village square. Known for his roles in My Family and The Wimbledon Poisoner, Lindsay described his character as "very English, doing everything that's very French, but not knowing much of the language at all!"
The actor revealed an interesting connection: "His daughter works in the local gendarmerie (police force)."
Emily Coates as Katie Gleason
Emily Coates, who appeared in the 2023 live-action version of The Little Mermaid alongside Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy, plays teenager Katie Gleason. The 30-year-old actress, whose television credits include Cursed and Ladhood, portrays the exchange student whose disappearance triggers the drama's central mystery.
Rupert Graves as Jason Bradley
Rupert Graves, known for his television work in Garrow's Law, Sherlock, and Riviera, plays Sarah's relatively new boyfriend Jason Bradley. The actor teased his character's complexity: "He seems a good guy. But everybody, even our partners, have secret lives, different sides to them."
Dean Fagan as Neil Scott
Dean Fagan, who played mechanic Luke Britton in Coronation Street from 2014-2018 and later appeared in the drama Time, portrays teacher Neil Scott. His character's unhelpful demeanor throughout the investigation raises suspicions about his involvement or knowledge.
Lya Lessert as Emma Morvan
Actress Lya Lessert, known for roles in Last Journey of Paul W.R., The Soul Eater, and Sweetheart, plays Emma Morvan, the French host family's daughter who welcomes Katie with polite but slightly uneasy hospitality.
Missed Call begins its four-night run on Monday, April 13 at 9pm on Channel 5, promising viewers a tense, emotionally charged thriller that explores parental fear, cultural differences, and the desperate search for truth in a foreign land.
