Smothered is a new comedy series on Sky that follows strangers Sammy, played by Danielle Vitalis, and Tom (Big Boys and Plebs’ actor Jon Pointing). They share a drunken night together and then agree to have a short-lived fling — on first name terms only with no strings attached! But as romance blossoms between them, the pressures of modern-day dating throw a spanner in the works.
The Smothered cast also includes Aisling Bea, musician Self Esteem, Blair Underwood and former EastEnders star Lisa Hammond. It's penned by Schitt’s Creek writer Monica Heisey.
So here’s everything you need to know about Smothered on Sky Comedy…
Smothered release date
Smothered is a six-part series that will air on Sky Comedy and Sky Showcase from Thursday December 7 2023 at 10pm then 10.30pm. All episodes will go out in weekly double bills and be box-setted on Sky Box Sets and NOW too.
In Australia all six episodes will be available from Thursday December 7 2023 on streaming service Binge, also weekly 7:30pm Friday December 8 on FOX8.
We'll update with any US or other international air dates.
Is there a trailer for Smothered?
Yes there's a trailer for Smothered, which shows the ups and downs in the dating lives of Sammy and Tom.T his looks fun! Do take a look below.
Smothered plot
Smothered follows Sammy (Danielle Vitalis) who is a fiercely independent woman who grows sick of useless men, so she decides to ditch dating apps and have a good time instead. She meets Tom (Jon Pointing) in a bar, and they bond over bad karaoke before sharing a night of passion. Then, in what seems like a good idea, the pair decide to have a commitment-free affair for three weeks before walking away from one another forever. But neither Sammy nor Tom can ignore the very real sparks between them. Then, Sammy makes a shocking discovery that Tom has another woman in his life — his six-year-old daughter Ellie.
Smothered cast — Danielle Vitalis on playing Sammy
Danielle Vitalis plays Sammy, who wants some meaningless fun in Smothered.
Danielle says: "Sammy is a young woman of the world. She’s an aspiring interior designer and works under a woman called Raina. She has big dreams and big hopes, but there’s also the little thing of life, having to live it, paying rent, being happy, not thinking about body image too much and questioning your place in the world...
"At the beginning of the series, Sammy is like ‘wiggy, wiggy, wiggy’ but by the end she wears her natural hair in a bun. I think it speaks to the nature of the character growing into herself. There’s lots that she doesn’t like at the beginning, and won’t stand for, but her non negotiables change as she realises life isn’t like that and you don’t get everything you want when you want it. And you find out that you don’t mind some of the non-negotiables.
"I don’t often laugh when I’m watching things or reading things, but I actually laughed when I read the script for the first time. I’ve done quite a bit of comedy and I find that it’s always funnier after you’ve filmed it and the editors have added all the magic to it, but this script was actually funny on paper."
* Danielle Vitalis previously played the teen Arabella in I May Destroy You and has also starred in Black Mirror, Famalam, Murder, They Hope, Youngers and Stath Lets Flats. She’s also appears in the movie The Great Escaper.
Jon Pointing on playing Tom
In Smothered, Jon Pointing plays Tom, a man with baggage as he has a wife Gillian daughter Ellie which Sammy doesn't know about during their first meetings.
Jon Pointing says: "I was drawn to Smothered as it offered me the opportunity to play a mature role. It was a different tone than what I’m used to playing but I enjoyed playing someone who was an adult with responsibilities. Primarily, Tom is a young dad. His daughter Ellie is nine years old, so his life has been on hold while he has focussed on being a dad and keeping a job that enables him to take care of her. He’s a nice guy, but he’s lost his personality a little bit. His life has ran away with him and he’s lost a bit of a spark.
"Sammy is that spark. She is fun and exciting. Tom might have been a party boy in the past, which had to stop when he had Ellie. He sees his old self in Sammy, as well as an opportunity to have a bit of fun again. Throughout the series, he’s torn between having fun with Sammy and enjoying himself and being pulled back by his responsibilities that come with being a dad. Tom is quite serious, and he’s not shy of commitment. His life is full of commitment already, so he’s ready for the relationship. He doesn’t have time for the games that are being played at the beginning of the series. It’s almost nauseating, he’s constantly ready to be this responsible dad guy.
"Tom is rusty at dating so that’s where the humour comes with him. He’s like “I can still have fun, I’m cool” but he proves not to be. He’s out of touch and out of practice. He’s got used to his life with his daughter and there’s lots about that he really likes and doesn’t want to change. He doesn’t not want to have a daughter. It was an accident but a happy one. On one hand, he realises that he needs to start living his own life and have fun, but he doesn’t want to forget about his daughter either. He develops a newfound appreciation for his life as the series goes on."
* Jon Pointing previoulsy played Jason in the popular Roman-era comedy Plebs and has also starred in Channel 4 series Big Boys, plus Starstruck, Pls Like, Crying Out Loud and Down from London. He is appearing in the BBC1's Agatha Christie adaptation Murder Is Easy over the Christmas 2023 season.
Who else is starring in Smothered?
Smothered also stars comedian Aisling Bea (This Way Up) as Tom's wife Gillian, the musician Self Esteem (real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor) as pansexual Farrah, Sex and the City’s Blair Underwood, hip-hop band Rizzle Kicks’ star Jordan Stephens as Sammy's ex Max and TikTok stars Harry Trevaldwyn plays Tom's best friend Jordan and Sarel Madziya as Sammy's sister Olivia. Former EastEnders star Lisa Hammond, who played Donna Yates in the soap, also stars.
Harry Trevaldwyn says: "My character Jordan is one of Tom’s best friends from work and I think we’re probably similar in the way we respond quite strongly to things. Jordan has glitzier tops than I do though and wears more mustard yellow than I probably would. It was nice doing it with Tessa because it really felt like we were work best friends. Being able to play off someone as brilliant as Tessa was lovely."
Jordan Stephens says: "Max is Danielle’s ex and is the rebound guy, the afterthought, so I’d like to believe that I have a tiny bit more social awareness and self-respect. Max is also a chef, and although I’m a good cook, I couldn’t call myself a chef in the slightest. My character was a flannel to be honest, he’s just soppy."
Smothered episode guide
Episode 1
Sammy has just about given up on love and the struggles of modern dating, until she meets Tom. Tom’s also disillusioned, but their chance encounter leaves him open to an unconventional proposal from Sammy. Their relationship can only be a three week, no details affair, and once it’s over they go their separate ways. Sammy and Tom struggle during their time apart. Sammy backpedals on the agreement and reaches out to Tom, only to find out he has a daughter.
Episode 2
The unexpected revelation of Tom’s 6-year-old child could be too big an obstacle for Sammy, who’s never wanted kids of her own. Left with no other choice, Tom and Sammy explore other options, but Tom can’t balance dating and children, and Sammy struggles to be mature in the face of potential step-motherhood. Sammy and Tom reconnect, agreeing to take things slowly. The plan seems to be in place until a discovery that’s close to home adds yet another complication to their relationship.
Episode 3
Sammy is semi-recovered from the discovery of Ellie’s mum, and Tom’s ex-wife, Gillian. Though Sammy’s not quite ready to meet Ellie just yet, she is ready to meet Tom’s friends. A wild night out together is just what they need for Tom to show Sammy’s flatmates that he’s fun too. A “dad emergency” derails the night for Tom, testing the balance between his relationship with Sammy, and his responsibilities to his daughter.
Episode 4
Sammy is in full ‘adult mode’, embracing her new role, but only in theory, not practice. Tom realises he’s fallen far out of step with his former friends and tries to forge a new friendship with another dad at school. Sammy’s first proper attempt at babysitting Ellie is a harsh introduction to the realities of parenting. Sammy has trouble being honest with Tom about an old flame.
Episode 5
It’s opening night for Gillian’s restaurant and nerves are high. Raina doesn’t know about Sammy and Tom, and tonight is not the night for her to find out. Olivia’s marital troubles cause her to act out. Gillian and Sammy connect over the recent changes to their family unit. Sammy’s anxious about her place in Tom and Ellie’s life, and the realisation that Tom hasn’t legally divorced Gillian doesn’t help.
Episode 6
It’s nearly Christmas, and Sammy and Tom’s relationship is hanging in the balance after the marriage revelation. Sammy’s anxiety around their relationship proves to be too much for Tom to handle. They spend the holidays apart but are both encouraged to try again and share their true feelings. But is a big romantic gesture enough to bring them back together in time for Christmas?
Behind the scenes and more on Smothered
Smothered is a Sky Original that filmed during the early part of 2023. Smothered was created by former Schitt’s Creek writer Monica Heisey, whose comic novel about newly single life, Really Good, Actually, is a bestseller.
