In Channel 4’s new drama In Flight, a flight attendant finds her life spiralling out of control. Single mum Jo Conran becomes ensnared into the murky underworld when she is blackmailed into drug smuggling after her teenage son is arrested for murder in Bulgaria. The show follows Jo’s relentless quest to protect her family while getting entangled in a dangerous criminal syndicate.
Actress Katherine Kelly, who plays her, explains, ‘From the beginning, Jo is going to see her son after he’s been arrested in Bulgaria. She didn’t even know he was travelling for various reasons. He’s been arrested and we think wrongfully put in prison. Her mission is to get her son out of jail, but things progressively get worse and worse.’
The former Coronation Street star adds, ‘Within the first half of the first episode, she’s thrown into a world that she never in her wildest dreams imagined that she could be placed in. Jo is thrown into an unthinkable position. It’s the worst position imaginable.’
All six episodes of In Flight, created by Mike Walden and Adam Randall, have now dropped.
Is In Flight based on a true story?
While Jo’s circumstances seem like they could be very real and based on a true story, the story is entirely fictional. The show’s creators Mike and Adam said, ‘In Flight is our spin on the noir genre, a high stakes, stylish, romantic thriller with iconic characters and nerve-shredding action. Channel 4 is the perfect home for our story, and we’re excited to be collaborating with such a brilliant team.’
The pair added, ‘Jo is a character close to our hearts. She is an extraordinary woman facing extraordinary odds. We can’t wait for audiences to meet her.’
Where was In Flight filmed?
While In Flight is set in various locations around the world, including London, Bangkok in Thailand, Istanbul in Turkey, and Bulgaria, the show was filmed in Belfast. The series was supported by funding from Northern Ireland Screen.
Katherine says, ‘We’re filming in Belfast and making it look like everywhere, not just London, but other places like Thailand. Jo works for an airline where she only really does long haul flights. She’s part of senior cabin crew and she’s worked for the airline for a couple of decades but gets to visit a lot of countries.’
Who stars in In Flight?
Sharing the screen alongside Katherine is Ashley Thomas as Jo’s ex, Customs officer Dom Delaney, who she turns to for help. Stuart Martin plays Cormac, a leading member of the criminal gang who coerces Jo into using her job to smuggle drugs. Also in the cast are Bronagh Waugh, Harry Cadby, Corinna Brown and Ambreen Razia.
Shereen Low is a senior news and entertainment writer for Grazia UK, who enjoys watching everything from Strictly Come Dancing and comedies to real-life crime shows and thrillers.