Channel 4 prison drama Screw has been axed

After two series

Author: Alex RossPublished 5th Feb 2024

Starring the likes of Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, Laura Checkley, Nina Sosanya and Ben Tavassoli, prison drama Screw was hugely popular when it first aired on Channel 4 back in 2022, but now we have some bad news for fans.

After two series by writer and creator Rob Williams, it has now been confirmed that Channel 4 bosses have made the decision to axe Screw, with actor Ben Tavassoli reacting to the news online.

Ben, who played the role of Louis Costa in the series, wrote on Instagram: 'Unfortunate news that this is where our journey ends for Screw. want to thank you guys so much for tuning in. All your kind words went a long way. love everyone who was part of the show, very lucky to have made dear friends for life'. (sic)

Fans were quick to express their disappointment at the news. One wrote: 'Loved this show! Gutted!', with another adding: 'That’s sad. I loved the show'.

Another wrote: 'Ahhh no, really thought there would have been another season , pity , but was brilliant 👏', with a fourth writing: 'What! Nooooo! Loved the show'. (sic) Another commented: 'Nooooooo! That was one of the best shows on tv 🥺🥺🥺'. (sic)

Premiering on Channel 4 in January 2022, Screw followed the highs and lows of life working inside a UK prison, and was inspired by creator Rob Williams' experience of working and volunteering in prisons in the UK.

Channel 4 described the show as 'life in prison as never before seen on British television'.

Following a successful first series, series two landed in August 2023, with many hoping it would return for a third series.

Check out which TV shows we wish would make a comeback:

Footballers' Wives

Broadcasting between 2002-2006, Footballers' Wives followed fictional Premier League football club Earls Park, as well as all of the drama from both the players and their fiery wives!

Bad Girls

Set inside a fictional women's prison, Bad Girls aired on ITV between 1996-2006 and featured some very famous faces, including Claire King and Debra Stephenson.

Benidorm

Airing for a huge 10 series between 2007 and 2018, ITV/STV sitcom Benidorm was a huge hit with fans. Ever since the show ended, fans have been begging creator Derren Litten to create more.

The Bill

First broadcast in 1983, police drama The Bill certainly proved popular, airing until 2010. The show focused on the lives and work of police officers and starred well-known actors such as Trudie Goodwin, Graham Cole and Mark Wingett.

Don't Try This At Home

Who remembers sitting down in front of the TV on a Saturday night, watching on as Davina McCall helped members of the public take on tough and fearful challenges?


This needs to come back!

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

She was confident, funny, magical AND she had a talking cat. Sabrina made us all want to be a witch!


The show was also rebooted between 2018 and 2020 as a Netflix series called Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Ugly Betty

Believe it or not, it's been a massive 16 years since Ugly Betty last aired on our screens! The show, which featured actress America Ferrera, followed a character called Betty Suarez, who despite her lack of 'style', landed a job at a very prestigious fashion magazine.

Where The Heart Is

The British drama, which was filmed in the Yorkshire town of Skelthwaite, proved very popular with viewers between 1997-2006, showcasing the lives of a group of district nurses and their families.

It's a Knockout

It was stupid, it was crazy, but it was certainly fun! It's a Knockout started way back in 1966, but the show made a number of returns on BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5!

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

We'd love to see Will Smith get back into his character alongside Carlton Banks, however we got the next best thing earlier this year, with the Fresh Prince reboot called Bel Air, which was released earlier this year where Jabari Banks played Will Smith.

Stars In Their Eyes

A true classic! Stars In Their Eyes, originally hosted by Leslie Crowther, first aired in 1990 with Matthew Kelly taking over in 1993. The show did make a return with Harry Hill in 2015, but it didn't quite take off!

The Queen's Nose

Who would have thought that rubbing a 50p coin would be so interesting? We used to love watching the adventures of Harmony as she used up her magic wishes.

Gossip Girl

Although the show was given a reboot in 2021 with a brand new cast, it didn't live up to expectations of the original series, which aired between 2007-2012.

Fun House

We used to love watching two schools battle each other in three rounds of madness. Bring back the gunge and Pat Sharp's crazy hairstyles!

Grange Hill

Despite being at school all day, we loved to come home and watch other people be at school. Strange. But gripping story lines and relatable characters had us glued to our screens.

London's Burning

Airing between 1988 and 2002, London's Burning documented the lives of a fictional London Fire Brigade Blue Watch at the fictional Blackwall fire station.

The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory was on TV from 2007 until 2019. The show centred around two physicists who shared an apartment, Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter and Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, and their friendship with Penny, played by Kaley Cuoco, who lived opposite.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones lasted for eight seasons between 2011 – 2019. The show starred Sean Bean as Eddard 'Ned' Stark and Kit Harington as Jon Snow.


House of Dragons is the new prequel but we really wish we'd have gotten more (or another ending) to the original Game of Thrones TV show. Who knows, maybe when the last book is out they might make some more episodes…

Series one and two of Screw are available to watch now on Channel 4's streaming service.

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All of the TV shows that have been rebooted

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