Coma: Release date, cast and latest news for Channel 5 drama

Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press ahead of the debut, Watkins revealed that his character – and the problems he faces in the series – has many parallels with real world issues.

He said: "Of course, you scratch the surface and they’ve had difficulty conceiving, they’re slightly vulnerable in terms of money and, so, we’re on a slight knife edge.

"I’m not saying there’s a crime epidemic but because of the cost of living crisis, crime is up. Those really petty little crimes – scratching your car, turning the bins over and little stuff, it’s just really annoying, I think, and when you’re stressed from other things, those things get magnified."

Filming for the series kicked off in October 2023 and, alongside Watkins, the cast includes his McDonald & Dodds co-star Claire Skinner as Simon's wife Beth and newcomer Joe Barber, who plays 17-year-old gang ringleader Jordan - whose group is wreaking havoc on Simon's neighbourhood.

Lest we forget that Doctor Who and Harry Potter legend David Bradley will also be featuring as Simon's grumpy neighbour Harry.

Meanwhile RadioTimes.com exclusively launched the trailer for the series earlier in March, which gave viewers a taste of what is to come in the drama.

But what else can we expect from the new series? Read on for everything you need to know about Coma on Channel 5.

Coma release date

Channel 5 has now confirmed that the first episode of the series will debut on Monday 18th March at 9pm – with the remaining three instalments then airing across consecutive nights that week.

On the announcement of the new series, Paul Testar, commissioning editor for Channel 5 and Paramount Plus, said: "Coma is a provocative thriller that asks the audience: What would I do?

"It's the story of a good man who does one bad thing that causes his life to spiral out of control. We are excited to be working with Roughcut and CBS Studios to bring this intense and gripping tale to Channel 5 viewers, and are thrilled to have the fantastic Jason Watkins leading the cast."

Coma cast: Who will star in Channel 5 drama?

The cast for the new series is being led by Jason Watkins, who is best known for his roles in W1A, Being Human and The Crown.

He stars as Simon in the show, a family man who makes a decision that changes everything after confronting a group of teens who have been terrorising his local neighbourhood.

He's joined by Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) as wife Beth, and together they are desperate to move their daughter away from the trouble ensuing in their town.

The full cast list for Coma is as follows:

• Jason Watkins as Simon
• Claire Skinner as Beth
• David Bradley as Harry
• Kayla Meikle as DS Kelly Evans
• David Mumeni as Jimmy
• Joe Barber as Jordan Franklin
• Jonas Armstrong as Paul
• Matilda Firth as Sophie Bamford
• Adrienn Reti as Anna Franklin

What will happen in Coma?

The new drama centres on Simon, who is faced with a life-changing decision that he makes in haste one day.

After his quiet neighbourhood is being overrun by a group of intimidating teenagers, Simon is left feeling helpless, and wants nothing more than to move for the sake of his and Beth's daughter.

But Simon is soon pushed to his limit by the group's ringleader, Jordan, who doesn't seem to want to leave Simon in peace. Confronted at his own door, Simon tries to regain control by taking matters into his own hands – with unexpected consequences.

But how will his decision ring out and impact his family? We'll just have to wait and see, but if the title of the show is anything to go by, it won't end well for someone.

Is there a trailer for Coma?

Yes! RadioTimes.com exclusively released a first-look trailer for the series on Wednesday 6th March – and based on the first-look it certainly looks like a dramatic one!

In the trailer, we get a sense of the tense drama to come as the walls seem to come caving in for Jason Watkins' character Simon, who appears to be trying his best for his family. You can check it out below:

Coma comes to Channel 5 and My5 on Monday 18th March at 9pm. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.

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