The stars of ITV's upcoming Covid-19 dramas Isolation Stories have been announced, with Gavin & Stacey's Sheridan Smith and former Coronation Street star Angela Griffin among those taking part.
The 15-minute shorts are produced by Oscar-nominated Philomena writer Jeff Pope, with the dramas billed as "funny, sad, heartwarming and poignant". They will be filmed in accordance with social distancing, with the directors watching footage through their smartphones.
Smith, who is pregnant in real life, will play the title character in Mel, the story of a mother-to-be who is left alone, with the father of her child staying at home with his wife and children.
"I am heavily pregnant and have been isolating at home so I jumped at the chance to make a drama about the massive drama going on all around us right now," said Smith. "I think it's really important to try and reflect what's happening to us whilst it is still actually happening."
Griffin stars in Mike and Rochelle, the story of a therapist (Griffin) and the hypochondriac patient (Killing Eve star Darren Boyd) she is trying to calm down.
Karen stars Ray Donovan's Eddie Marsan and his real-life sons Blue and Bodie in the story of a grieving widower and his two boys. The youngsters' grandfather (Shameless star David Threlfall) decides to cheer them up by dancing outside their window every day - but his son isn't thrilled.
Ron and Russell stars Spooks' Robert Glenister as a father who is battling coronavirus, with Glenister's real-life son Tom playing the son who is looking after him.
Isolation Stories begins on ITV on Monday, May 4 at 9:00pm and runs over four consecutive nights.
