Desperate Measures on Channel 5: What it's about, cast, where you have seen them before and Corrie link

If you're looking for your next drama fix as you settle down for the evening, Channel 5's latest mini-drama, Desperate Measures, begins tonight (Tuesday, February 21).

The thriller, starring Amanda Abbington, follows single mum Rowan Taylor as she raises her son, Finn, on a rough estate. She has tried her best to keep him out of trouble, but when the youngster gets caught up in a a botched drug deal, she must do everything she can to save him.

She puts her own job on the line, by carrying out a heist at the bank where she works in the hopes of helping out her son. The series has four episodes, each lasting an hour and airing at 9pm from Tuesday until Friday (February 24).

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Desperate Measures was co-created by Tim Dynevor and Mike Benson. Tim is known for writing episodes of Emmerdale and he's also the husband of Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor. The couple, who have been married for 28 years, share three children, including Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor.

Amanda Abbington takes the lead role of bank clerk Rowan. She's previously appeared in TV shows including Sherlock, Mr Selfridge, After You’ve Gone and The Net - Prometheus. More recent credits include ITV’s The Family Pile, Netflix’s Lockwood & Co, Wolfe, I Hate Suzie on Sky and We Are Not Alone.

The actress was previously in a long-term relationship with fellow Sherlock actor Martin Freeman and the couple share two children. She is now engaged to retired escape artist Jonathan Goodwin, who reportedly proposed to her within 30 minutes of their first meeting in Vienna, Austria.

Warren Brown takes on the role of Rowan’s former partner