Catherine Tate's new Netflix comedy gives off big 'The Office in prison' vibes in its first trailer

Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for Catherine Tate's new comedy series Hard Cell – and the prison-set mockumentary is already giving us big 'The Office, but behind bars' vibes. 

The two-minute promo sees Tate play a whole host of characters including Big Viv, a lifer who's as enthusiastic about singing as she is "incredibly violent", a male prison guard, and Laura Willis, HMP Woldsley's David Brent-esque Governor. 

"I am changing the way women's prisons are run," Willis smugly explains in the teaser. "Creativity, a sense of purpose, self-esteem? The building blocks to rehabilitation. Musicals, in prison? Hell to the yeah."

"I don't want to spook anyone, but I think this could all go to shit," the Heather Trott actor admits to the camera during one scene.

"Let's break some misconceptions. Let's smash some stereotypes. Be yourselves," an undeterred Willis adds. "If I know these women, they will run towards this opportunity and leap into its arms."

"Rehearsals draw together an oddball collection of women as they find their voices, grow in confidence and strengthen their friendships," the official synopsis reads. "Funny yet surprisingly moving, Hard Cell leans into the comical truth of prison life."

Amy West

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things TV and film across our Total Film and SFX sections. Elsewhere, my words have been published by the likes of Digital Spy, SciFiNow, PinkNews, FANDOM, Radio Times, and Total Film magazine.