Sheridan Smith will be joined by one of the UK's favourite comedians when she returns to the stage later this year for Alan Ayckbourn’s psychological comedy Woman In Mind. Announced today, the full line-up for the show — which will start in London's West End before visiting Sunderland and Glasgow — includes none other than Rob & Romesh Vs... and Taskmaster star Romesh Ranganathan.
Described by the production's official socials as a "mind-bending masterpiece", Woman In Mind was first performed in Scarborough in 1985 before having its London debut in 1986.
This new iteration stars Smith as Susan, a housewife who suffers a bump to the head. The audience sees what happens as she begins to imagine a new, better life for herself; with the lines between what's real and what she's hallucinating beginning to blur.
Ranganathan will play Bill, Susan's doctor, in what will be his West End play debut.
He said in a statement: "I’m honoured to be stepping onstage in a play for the first time (since primary school) alongside the incredible Sheridan Smith and company.
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"It’s very much a mix of feeling excited about such an amazing experience, as well as a real rich vein of extreme nerves."
He added: "Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman In Mind is an amazing play and I look forward to helping to bring it to life. I’m also playing a doctor, which means that my mum might finally feel something approaching pride."
Ranganathan famously starred in the very first series of Taskmaster back in 2015, where he was joined by Frank Skinner, Roisin Conaty, Tim Key and winner Josh Widdecombe.
He's since gone on to become the new host of The Weakest Link, and he's been confirmed for the second season of runaway Prime Video hit LOL: Last One Laughing UK. He'll be seen alongside David Mitchell, Mel Giedroyc, Alan Carr, Amy Gledhill, Maisie Adam, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Sam Campbell, Diane Morgan and a returning Bob Mortimer when it airs in early 2026.
Taskmaster, meanwhile, is currently in the midst of its landmark 20th series, featuring Ania Magliano, Maisie Adam, Phil Ellis, Reece Shearsmith and Sanjeev Bhaskar.
Woman In Mind will play at the West End's Duke of York’s Theatre from 9 December to 28 February 2026, before heading to the Sunderland Empire from 4 March to 7 March. It'll then conclude its run with a visit to Theatre Royal Glasgow from 10 March to 14 March.
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Smith previously said in an Instagram Reel: "Alan Ayckbourn's stuff is loved because he's just a genius really. I kind of want to start right now, this second. It's going to be a fun show, so come see it."
The project will cap off a busy year for Smith, who was announced for a new movie alongside Rebel Wilson just last month.
The acclaimed actress has begun production on the movie Girl Group, which also boasts Randall Park, Derry Girls' Jamie-Lee O’Donnell and Man Like Mobeen's Guz Khan.
The film stars Wilson as a pop diva who is booted off her own band's reunion tour by her bandmates (who, incidentally, are played by real life girl power icons Melanie C, Shaznay Lewis and Ashley Roberts).
Smith also picked up acclaim for her role as Ann Ming in true-life drama I Fought The Law, which aired on ITV over the summer to huge acclaim.
Taskmaster airs on Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 4. Woman In Mind begins performances at the Duke of York's Theatre on 9 December. Tickets are available here.
Read more Taskmaster news on our dedicated homepage.
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Shaun is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, with over a decade of experience reporting on all things pop culture. He has written for outlets including Metro, Attitude, Huffington Post, The Mirror, Yahoo!, Pink News and Express Online, specialising in TV, movies, soaps, music and LGBTQ+ issues. He is also a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning scriptwriter, having written episodes of the soap Hollyoaks, the official Steps musical Here & Now and multiple Offie Award-nominated plays. He studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, and will happily talk at length about Desperate Housewives to anyone who'll listen.
