The Cuckoo's Jill Halfpenny has a 'blast' on set as she films sinister role in Channel 5 drama

Jill Halfpenny has told fans she 'had a blast' shooting new Channel 5 drama The Cuckoo, as viewers look set to be taken aback by seeing her in the role of a TV villain.

More than 30 years have now passed since Geordie star Jill got her big TV break on Newcastle set show Byker Grove, sharing a screen with the likes of Ant and Dec and Billy Fane as the programme quickly became a huge hit with BBC viewers. After leaving her Grove days behind, Jill went onto land roles in both Coronation Street and EastEnders, before winning Strictly and going onto star in the West End as the lead in Chicago.

Channel 5 first snapped up to appear in one of their dramas a few years ago, with The Drowning then becoming popular on Netflix and Jill going onto appear in The Holiday, with that too being picked up by Netflix as subscribers binged it on the streaming service. And now, Jill will be taking on the mysterious and sinister part of Sian in The Cuckoo, which begins it four night run on Channel 5 on Monday, April 8.

READ MORE: Channel 5's The Cuckoo cast as Jill Halfpenny stars in four part drama

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The Cuckoo cast also includes Casualty and The Bill's Claire Goose and Lee Ingelby, who was on screen last year in ITV true crime drama, The Hunt for Raoul Moat. Claire and Lee play husband and wife Jessica and Nick who, desperate for some extra income, welcome Jill's character to their home, only to be left wishing they didn't as her actions and eagerness to get close to their adopted daughter Alice give cause for concern.

And, ahead of episode one airing on Monday night, Jill took top X (Twitter) to give a brief insight into how things went for her on set. Sharing a trailer for the show on her timeline, she wrote: "Had a blast on this one . Such a gorgeous cast and crew."

Like Love Rat and Coma before it, The Cuckoo will air on Channel 5 over four consecutive nights - being on at 9pm from April 8-11.