The Night Manager star confirmed for all-new crime drama “full of fun, action and emotion”

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Hayley Squires, known for her role in The Night Manager, will appear in the new BBC drama, Shy & Lola.

The upcoming series, penned by acclaimed writer Amanda Coe (known for Apple Tree Yard and The Trial of Christine Keeler), centers on Shy and Lola. These two women, despite their differences, must team up when a murder draws them into the dangerous criminal world hidden within Shy’s quiet seaside town in Northern England.

The story follows two inexperienced individuals who surprisingly turn out to be good at committing crimes. As they grow their criminal enterprise and start challenging the established local criminals, they face a choice: use their profits to start over with a clean slate, or take over as the new leaders of the criminal underworld.

Tom Hughes plays Shy, a man working as a cleaner to make ends meet. Bel Powley, known for her role in ‘The Diary of a Teenage Girl’, plays Lola, a former model who’s fallen on hard times and comes to town with a knack for scheming.

The new series is based on the French television drama Cheyenne and Lola.

Coe described writing “Shy & Lola” as a joy, highlighting the complex and dynamic relationship between the two main characters. He said the show is packed with humor, excitement, and heartfelt moments, and he’s eager to see the talented cast and director bring the story to the screen.

Rachelle Constant, an executive producer at Clerkenwell Films (the company behind the Netflix show Baby Reindeers), hinted at a new show: a funny and fast-paced series about two strong female leads.

Lindsay Salt, head of BBC drama, hinted that the upcoming series will have fantastic writing that will both surprise and entertain audiences. With Clerkenwell producing and Hayley and Bel starring, she believes BBC viewers are in for something special.

I’ve been consistently impressed with Olivia Squires’ work. You might recognize her from gripping TV series like The Essex Serpent and Adult Material, or perhaps from her memorable performance as the sharp MI6 officer Sally Price-Jones in The Night Manager. She’s also a fantastic presence in indie films – I particularly enjoyed her in I, Daniel Blake, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, and the wonderfully bizarre Beau Is Afraid. She really brings a quiet intensity to everything she does.

Further cast members will be announced in due course.

Filming is set to kick off on the new series this spring in and around Hull and Leeds.

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Molly MossTrends Writer

Molly Moss writes about the newest happenings in TV, movies, and other entertainment for TopMob. She has a master’s degree in journalism and has also contributed to major news outlets like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online.

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2026-02-23 20:34