Thursday 16 September 2021
Channel 4
21:00
Writer: Jack Thorne
Director: Marc Munden
Producer: Jenny Frayn
Executive Producer: Beth Willis
Executive Producer: George Faber
Executive Producer: Jack Thorne
Executive Producer: Marc Munden
Executive Producer: Stephen Graham
Executive Producer: Jodie Comer
Executive Producer: Christopher Moll
The Forge, in association with One Shoe Films production, for Channel 4
Set in a fictional Liverpool care home, Help tells the story of the relationship between a young care worker and a patient, whose lives are changed forever by the onset of the CoronaVirus pandemic in Spring 2020.
Sarah (Jodie Comer) is smart, but she's never fitted in - not in education and not in work.
Her family told her she'd never amount to anything, but she unexpectedly finds her calling as a carer at Sunshine Homes.
Sarah has a special talent for connecting with the residents, including 47-year-old Tony (Stephen Graham) in particular.
Tony's young-onset Alzheimer's has left him living out his days in care as his mind slowly deteriorates.
His illness causes periods of confusion and violent outbursts, which the other members of staff struggle to handle.
But he begins to build a real bond with Sarah.
But then March 2020 hits, and everything Sarah has achieved is thrown into doubt with the arrival of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
She and her colleagues tirelessly fight tooth and nail, ill-equipped, poorly prepared and seemingly left helpless by the powers that be.
A determined Sarah goes to extraordinary lengths to protect those in her care, whose conditions make their suffering and isolation all the more traumatic.
But the staff's unwavering commitment, compassion and heroic efforts can only do so much, and Sarah is pushed into a dark corner and desperately looks for a way out.
Stephen Graham as Tony
Ian Hart as Steve
Lesley Sharp as Gaynor
Andrew Schofield as Bob
Ellis Howard as Robbie
Cathy Tyson as Polly
Angela Griffin as Tori
Steve Garti as Kenny
Arthur Hughes as Tim
Sue Johnston as Gloria
Mike Noble as Graham
Alicya Eyo as Julie
Flo Wilson as Velma
Jackie Knowles as Joan
Ozzie Yue as Stan
Ian Ralph as Farmer Joe
David Hayman as Hercules
Reid Anderson as Paramedic
Charlie De'Ath as 999 Operator
John McGrellis as Police Officer 1
Samantha Robinson as Police Officer 2