Julie Hesmondhalgh: Screwdriver is a 'cry from the heart' about protecting children (VIDEO)

She’s been shocking us with her language and antics as she’s played harassed mum Cleo in Cucumber, but now former Corrie star Julie Hesmondalgh is about to feature in a Channel4.com spin-off called Screwdriver, which launches on February 19.

The 15-minute special features high drama between mum Cleo and her son Adam, played by former Waterloo Road star Ceallach Spellman, as Cleo has discovered her son is deeply immersed in the world of internet porn.

Julie spoke to What’s On TV about Screwdriver and some of the issues it throws up for modern day parents.

“In Screwdriver, Cleo really has to look at what her children are being exposed to, especially online,” Julie told us. “I learnt such a lot about the online world doing this, because I was completely naive about it.

“Writer Russell T Davies calls Screwdriver a good-old-fashioned polemic. It’s a battle cry - a sort of cry from the heart on what we’re neglecting to protect our children from.”

You can watch Screwdriver HERE from Thursday night. Meanwhile, watch our chat with Julie Hesmondhalgh, above.

Nicholas Cannon
TV Content Director on TV Times, What's On TV and TV & Satellite Week

I'm a huge fan of television so I really have found the perfect job, as I've been writing about TV shows, films and interviewing major television, film and sports stars for over 25 years. I'm currently TV Content Director on What's On TV, TV Times, TV and Satellite Week magazines plus Whattowatch.com. I previously worked on Woman and Woman's Own in the 1990s. Outside of work I swim every morning, support Charlton Athletic football club and get nostalgic about TV shows Cagney & Lacey, I Claudius, Dallas and Tenko. I'm totally on top of everything good coming up too.