Screw: Everything you need to know about the gritty new prison drama

Derry Girl Jamie-Lee O'Donnell appears in the new show 👇

Author: Emma DicksonPublished 6th Jan 2022
Last updated 6th Jan 2022

Derry Girls’ Jamie-Lee O’Donnell is swapping the school tie for a set of handcuffs, in new prison drama called Screw.

Channel 4’s new six-part drama has been created by Bafta-nominated writer Rob Williams, best known for his work on Killing Eve, so hopes are high for this new series.

Premiering on Channel 4 at 9pm on Thursday 6th January, Screw follows the highs and lows of life working inside a UK prison.

The Derry Girls star is joined by a talented cast - Nina Sosanya (His Dark Materials) Faraz Ayub (Line of Duty) and Ron Donachie (Game of Thrones).

Jamie-Lee plays the role of Rose, a 21-year-old trainee officer that's street smart and feisty.

What is the plot of Screw?

Channel 4 have described the show as 'life in prison as never before seen on British television.' It was inspired by the creator’s experience of working and volunteering in prisons in the UK.

It's set in C Wing of Long Marsh Prison, a Category B male prison. That wing is run by supervising officer Leigh Henry, played by Nina Sosanya.

There’s a motley crew of prison officers under her beady eye, and into that comes a new young officer called Rose, played by Jamie-Lee. Because of the nature of prison life and the types of people drawn towards working there, everybody has a very different take on how prison should be run, how prisoners should be dealt with, what rules are to be adhered to or broken. It’s a pressure cooker of personalities.

How to watch Screw:

Screw premieres on Channel 4 and All 4 on Thursday 6th January at 9pm.

Watch the full trailer 👇

Meet some of the characters in Screw:

Leigh Henry - Nina Sosanya

Leigh is the woman in charge and she is wholly devoted to her job. She will do whatever it takes to look after the prisoners on C wing.

Rose Gill - Jamie-Lee O’Donnell

Rose is the latest officer to join the team and she is determined to prove herself as brave and confident.

Jackie Stokes - Laura Checkley

Jackie is a mother figure - best known and loved for her foul mouth and sense of humour.

Gary Campbell - Stephen Wight

Gary is another prison officer in the series who has a short fuse and fights for what he believes in.


Although a lot of our favourite shows were postponed due to the pandemic, there's still lots of great telly set to return in 2022.

And we couldn't be more excited…

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