Channel 4 meets Maya

Channel 4 meets Maya


By Michael Pickard
December 3, 2025

First Look

FIRST LOOK: Filming has wrapped on Maya, an upcoming Channel 4 drama starring and written by Daisy Haggard, who also makes her directing debut on the six-part series.

Haggard (Boat Story, Back to Life) plays determined and devoted single mum Anna, who is forced into a witness protection programme to escape a life-threatening danger. With her headstrong teenage daughter Maya (Bella Ramsey) in tow, they leave their London lives and Anna’s parents, Nancy (Harriet Walter) and George (Tom Courteney) behind, taking on new identities and relocating to a small rural town in Scotland.

Aided by Senior Detective Constable Debs (Josie Walker) and Witness Protection Officers Tony (Stuart Bowman ) and Karen (Kiran Sonia Sawar), they try to adjust to their new reality, but the trauma of their past continues to haunt them in the form of two hitmen, Benji (Ben Chaplin) and Ted (Raphel Famotibe), who are intent on tracking them down. As the walls close in, it becomes clear that a dangerous and calculating figure from their past, the seemingly charming Bobby (Tobias Menzies ) is still a looming and very present threat.

Filmed entirely on location in Scotland, the series also stars Kiran Sonia Sawar, Serena Manteghi, Archie Backhouse, Paul Blair, Sonny Poon Tip, Finlay Shack, Max Fincham, Ash Hunter, Harry Hadden-Paton, Tori Allen-Martin and Isabele Derosa.

Described as darkly comedic, with Haggard’s trademark warmth and humour, the series is an atmospheric psychological thriller that explores themes of predatory male behaviour, family and love, but is also a warm and witty celebration of the special, unbreakable bond shared between mother and daughter.

Creator Haggard co-directs Maya alongside Jamie Donoughue (Doctor Who). It is a Two Brothers Pictures production, in association with distributor All3Media International.

Haggard is also an executive producer with Harry and Jack Williams, Sarah Hammond, Alex Mercer and Daisy Mount. Kenny Tanner is the producer, Donoughue is a co-executive producer, Si Bell is the DOP and Shaheen Baig is casting director.

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