Missed Call on Channel 5: 'Powerful story' about 'every mother's worst fear' stars Joanna Scanlan
A young girl disappears on a school exchange in France...
Missed Call is an upcoming thriller set to air on Channel 5, which is “a powerful story about every mother’s worst fear”.
Slow Horses and The Larkins’ actress Joanna Scanlan leads the cast as the distraught mum, whose daughter goes missing on a school trip.
Like The Game, The Feud, and The Au-Pair before it, the Channel 5 series promising big thrills, with a cast of TV’s top names.
Here’s everything you need to know about Missed Call on Channel 5, including plot, cast, start date, and location.
What is Missed Call on Channel 5 about?
Upcoming Channel 5 thriller Missed Call introduces us to single mother Sarah. When her teenage daughter Katie Gleason goes missing on a school exchange to France, Sarah’s world is “upended”. Worse, still, Sarah received a late-night call from her teenage daughter, Katie – which she missed.
Sarah rushes to Saint-Michel seeking answers. However, once there, she is met with evasive police and hostility from Katie’s powerful host family, the Morvans,… Left with no choice, Sarah launches her own investigation alongside local detective Lieutenant Virginie Taylor, exposing buried secrets, abuse, corruption, and trafficking within the tight-knit town.
As bodies surface and suspicions reach influential figures – including Virginie’s father – alliances fracture. Betrayed and unraveling, Sarah learns that Katie may still be alive. Time is running out for them both and justice.
A synopsis tells us: “Sarah arrives in France. But she finds the host family and local authorities disturbingly indifferent to Katie’s disappearance. Sarah refuses to accept their complacency. However, her search for her daughter spirals into a gripping and dangerous race against time.”
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Where is Missed Call set and filmed?
Missed Call is set against the backdrop of a picturesque French village, specifically Saint-Michel in France. Although this isn’t a real place in France, cast and crew did film the entire series on location on Southern France.
This follows The Rumour, which aired last year and was filmed in Budapest.
Who plays Sarah?
BAFTA-winning actress Joanna Scanlan leads the cast of Channel 5’s Missed Call as frantic mum Sarah. Of course, TV viewers will know Joanna best for playing Ma Larkin in The Larkins, DI Vivienne Deering in No Offence, and Terri Coverley in The Thick of It. As well as her comedic roles, she’s appeared in hard-hitting dramas like The Accident, A Very Royal Scandal, and Slow Horses. She’ll soon appear in Sally Wainwright’s Riot Women.
She said on joining the cast: “The script for Missed Call gripped me from the first page. It’s a powerful story about every mother’s worst fear, set in a place that’s stunningly beautiful but weirdly unsettling.
“Sarah is a complex, vibrant and determined woman, and I’m hugely excited to bring her to life in this tense and emotional thriller. It’s a real pleasure to be working with Channel 5 on such a bold and compelling piece of drama.”
Who else is in the cast?
Robert Lindsay also appears in the thriller and he’s not playing the usual nice guy! TV fans will know the actor best for his early career in TV series such as Citizen Kane, and My Family. More recently, he’s appeared in Sherwood, and Generation Z.
Rupert Graves will join the ensemble cast, too, in what must surely be one of the most impressive Channel 5 casts to date. Sherlock fans will know Rupert as DI Greg Lestrade. He’s also famous for his roles in Riviera, The Family, Garrow’s Law, Last Tango in Halifax, and The Forsyte Saga.
Other famous names include Andrew Lee Potts, Emily Coates, and Dean Fagan. French actors Claire Keim and François-Xavier Demaison complete the cast.
How many episodes is Missed Call on Channel 5?
The thriller Missed Call will be five episodes of about an hour long (minus the ads).
Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5 said: “Missed Call is an emotionally charged thriller. It brings together a phenomenal international cast and a compelling story of maternal determination and cultural clash.”
Samuel Kissous, President of Pernel Media, added: “We have attracted world class talents with two BAFTA winning actors and a roster of French and international stars.”
When’s the start date? How can I watch it?
Channel 5 has revealed the start date for Missed Call is Monday, April 13, 2026 at 9pm. It will air every night this week, from Monday to Friday.
All episodes will be available on Channel5.com after episode one airs on Channel 5. But if you’re watching night by night, the final will air on Friday, April 17, 2026.
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