Sarah Lancashire to Lead Netflix Thriller Witch Hunt

Sarah Lancashire will play a woman freed after 30 years in prison for drowning her three young daughters in Netflix's new thriller Witch Hunt.

The dark thriller about a modern-day witch hunt teams Lancashire with writer Abi Morgan and production company Sister, and was revealed at Netflix's UK Upfronts, meaning its annual slate showcase, in London on 24 September, Deadline reported.

Lancashire plays August Howell. She is described as a descendant of the 'Witch of Cambridge'. Police turn to August's last surviving daughter for help.

That daughter is Professor Wren Howell. Officers ask her to help find a killer as fear grows that August's return has triggered a witch hunt in a university town.

Lancashire is the multi-BAFTA-winning star of Happy Valley. She also plays Reed in Netflix's Black Doves, which was also produced by Sister.

The project brings Morgan back to Netflix for the first time since Eric, a limited series, meaning a story told across one short season. Eric starred Benedict Cumberbatch and was also produced by Sister.

Netflix also announced a very different programme at the same event. Hot or Cold is a comedy entertainment series featuring Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade.

Teams must work through a labyrinth of rooms. Each room holds a challenge to be completed as quickly as possible, without being told what the challenge is or how to solve it.

Hot or Cold is produced by Zeppotron, the Banijay-backed company behind Last One Laughing UK. Mortimer won the first series of that Prime Video show, which featured both Mortimer and Ayoade.

What makes this stand out is the pairing. One order is a slow-burn murder story built around a mother and daughter. The other is a fast, blindfolded game where no one knows the rules until they start playing.