Mum-of-one Sheridan Smith will portray Jenna, a state schoolteacher, whose life unravels after being accused of a drunken s3xual encounter with one of her pupils

Sheridan Smith is set to star alongside former Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher in a new Channel 5 drama, it has been confirmed.

Teacher is a psychological thriller which follows Jenna, a state schoolteacher, whose life unravels after being accused of a drunken s3xual encounter with one of her pupils.

With no memory of the night in question, Jenna’s only hope of redemption lies in uncovering the truth about a dark event in her past that returns to haunt her.

Sheridan, 39, will play Jenna, while Ackley Bridge actor Samuel Bottomley will star opposite Sheridan as the pupil at the centre of the s3xual encounter Jenna finds herself in.

Sheridan Smith is set to star in a new Channel 5 drama called Teacher
 

Former soap star Kelvin, Cecilia Noble and Sharon Rooney all star as teaching colleagues of Jenna.

Meanwhile, It’s A Sin actor David Fleeshman will portray the role of Jenna’s Father with Marcella actor Ian Puleston-Davies also featuring.

“With no memory of the night in question, Jenna’s only hope of redemption lies in uncovering the truth about a dark event in her past that returns to haunt her,” producers said.

Mike Benson, managing director of production company Clapperboard, said the drama would “explore the challenging and provocative themes thrown up by these types of cases”.

He added: “When we first developed Teacher, we had Sheridan in mind as someone who could bring empathy and complexity to the character of Jenna, so the fact she has agreed to come on board is hugely exciting.”

Filming is set to begin later this month, with an air date later in the year.