STICKS AND STONES: S01E01

Sticks and Stones; Series 1/Episode 1 airs, Monday 16 December 2019, on ITV/STV/UTV at 21:00.
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Written by Mike Bartlett
Directed by Julia Ford
Series Producer: Colin Wratten
Executive Producer: Catherine Oldfield
Executive Producer: Mike Bartlett

​The three-part psychological drama is focused on the competitive world of middle management.

Sticks and Stones centres on the personal and professional life of Thomas Benson; a hard-working father and husband.

When he freezes during a pitch the fall out is monumental.

Determined to win back the client Thomas goes to increasingly desperate lengths to remain successful.

Has he lost his confidence and just feeling paranoid or is his own team, and maybe the wider world, now out to get him?

In the first of a brand new drama series for ITV/STV/UTV, Thomas Benson (​Ken Nwosu) is a Sales Associate at Clayton Office Solutions in Reading where he lives with his wife Jess (Alexandra Roach), a nurse, and their young daughter, Millie (Daisy Boo Bradford), who was born deaf.

​He is good at his job and feels respected by his colleagues Andy, Isobel and Becky and his boss Chris Carter.

Thomas and the team give a pitch presentation to Janice Lancing and her team at Murray Technology but when the presentation goes badly wrong, Thomas panics and faints in front of everyone. 

The team has lost a potentially large contract and with it the lucrative bonuses that would have been coming their way.

The team seem to lay the blame firmly at Thomas’ door. 

​Is it his imagination or are his colleagues now out to get him?

How will Thomas react when his work life is threatened?

CAST

​Ken Nwosu as Thomas Benson
Alexandra Roach as Jess Benson
Susannah Fielding as Isobel Jones
Daisy Boo Bradford as Millie Benson
Ben Miller as Chris Carter
Sean Sagar as Andy Stocks
Phoebe Nicholls as Janice Lancing
Miranda Foster as Dr. Sarah Angelis
Elena Saurel as Tanya Baxter
Ritu Arya as Becky Mills
Gwilym Lee as Mark Baxter
Michael Cochrane as Clayton
Debbie Chazen as Natalie
Neil Pearson as Phil
Jordan Baker as Lisa
Russell Anthony as Steve
Helen Anderson as Marie
Jody Halse as Craig
Elizabeth Conboy as Marion
Luke Millard as Barman
Nicholas Khan as Maitre d’
Eddie Arnold as Waiter