Netflix viewers divided over Sheridan Smith drama about teacher accused of sleeping with student

Netflix viewers have been left divided over a Sheridan Smith drama in which she plays a teacher accused of sleeping with a student.

The Teacher was first released on Channel 5 earlier this year, but now it has landed on the popular streaming platform, receiving a mixed response. Watch the trailer here:

Smith plays secondary school teacher Jenna Garvey, who is struggling with her mental health and using alcohol and sex as a way to momentarily ease the pain.

The emotionally troubled teacher is eventually accused of having sex with a 15-year-old student while on a night out to celebrate a promotion, but has no recollection whatsoever of what might have taken place.

She is left grasping at straws and seeking to unfurl the mysteries of what actually happened before her life was flipped on its head.

The drama is currently sat at number four in the Top 10 TV Programmes in the UK category on Netflix; though on social media, there has been a divide of both praise and criticism.

Channel 5

"Watching The Teacher on Netflix and it's so good," one fan wrote.

While another added: "The Teacher on Netflix is rather good."

And a third agreed: "Watching The Teacher, Netflix. Wow! Sheridan Smith is an amazing Actress! Heart and soul in every role."

But you can't please 'em all, and there were plenty who rated it very differently indeed.

"If you like a clunky script full of holes and cliché The Teacher on Netflix might be up your street," one wrote.

Another critic added: "Watching The Teacher on Netflix! The plot holes & poor dialogue make for a really great drinking game. It's one of the worst shows Ive seen in a long while!"

While another concluded: "The Teacher on Netflix had the s****est endings ever."

Channel 5

So I guess you're probably best just watching it yourself and seeing which camp you belong to.

Smith said that she was attracted to the role after being gripped' by the script.

The 41-year-old explained: "Jenna is such a complex character, there are so many layers to her and I love the fact that you don't know if she's telling the truth or not.

“All these twists and turns came along in the story that I did not expect, and I couldn't put it down, which is rare – I read it all in one go."

Topics: TV and Film, Netflix, Sex and Relationships

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey