'I wrote The Cage to understand my brother's addiction'

The Bafta-nominated writer of a new "high-energy crime story" about gambling has said he wanted to write about addiction to better understand his late brother's battles with alcohol.

Tony Schumacher said he had the idea for The Cage, which is set in a Liverpool casino, before his hit drama The Responder, which was also filmed in the city and aired in 2022.

The drama, starring Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha, focuses on two casino workers involved in a high-stakes robbery.

Schumacher, of Huyton, Merseyside, said he was always trying to figure his brother out "so I'd always wanted to write something about addiction but not especially alcoholism, because it's a bit close to home".

He told BBC North West Tonighthis idea to do a drama on gambling was "always kicking around".

"My brother, who's sadly passed away now, he was an alcoholic and I was always trying to figure him out, trying to get into his head and understand why he was the way he was," he said.

"So I'd always wanted to write something about addiction, but not especially alcoholism, because it's a bit close to home and also I'm terrified of having an addictive personality.

"I'm addicted to work, which might be a good thing but I'm not sure it is."

He added: "Gambling is such a major, major issue. It's massive and it's just a great place to start."

Schumacher said it was "brilliant" the way the city had "embraced" Smith, who plays Leanne in the new five-part drama which begins on BBC One later.

Smith told BBC Radio 2 she felt like an "adopted Scouser" since her critically acclaimed portrayal of Liverpool's Cilla Black in the ITV drama Cilla in 2014.

"I just love the city. I love the people; they are so friendly," she said.

Schumacher said staff at Paper Cup Coffee cafe on Queen Square which was opposite the disused casino they filmed at "fell in love" with Smith.

Michelle Langan, who runs the cafe which supports homeless people, said she was "absolutely brilliant".

She said Smith - like her co-star Socha and the rest of the cast and crew - "had no airs and graces" and would chat away to all the customers during the several weeks they were filming at the nearby casino in May last year.

When filming finished, the cast and crew gave them a chip used in the show and a card thanking them "for keeping the crew going", adding the charity cafe was "an inspiration to us all".

Schumacher also praised Smith's scouse accent - saying it was better than his own.

"I was checking with Sheridan if mine was OK, because it's just brilliant," he said.

Schumacher said he had not originally envisaged Socha, who was previously in This is England, as playing Matty, but on the first day of filming, he "totally nailed it".

"He blew it out of the water," he added.

He said Socha and Smith - from the very first read-through - had "magic" chemistry, for the "funny and dark" drama.

Director Al Mackay also said the pair "sparked off each other".

While most of the filming was done in the Liverpool area, some scenes were filmed in Bolton and Tockholes in Darwen, Lancashire.

The Royal Arms pub in Tockholes had the cast and crew using their facilities when filming took place nearby last year.

Emma Ball, who has been running the pub for nearly three years, said it was lovely to host them.

"It was lovely to have them in the pub.

"We are only a tiny village - and are really excited to watch the Cage and see Tockholes on it."

The Cage starts on 26 April from 06:00 BST on BBC iPlayer and 21:00 on BBC One.

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