Sarah Lancashire plays social worker Miriam in Channel 4 drama Kiri. Picture: Channel 4

A new drama about transracial adoption and the aftermath of child abduction during an unsupervised visit organised by a social worker will air on Channel 4 next week.

Kiri follows the story of a young girl, Kiri, who is soon-to-be adopted by her foster family, and goes on an unsupervised visit to her biological grandparents arranged by social worker Miriam Grayson. When Kiri goes missing during the visit, the social worker is put under the spotlight of accusation and blame.

Sarah Lancashire plays Miriam in the four-part drama which will begin on Channel 4 on 10 January.

The drama unfolds through three viewpoints: Miriam, Tobi, Kiri’s biological grandfather and Alice, Kiri’s foster parent.

Research

Jack Thorne, writer of Kiri, said in an interview with Channel 4 that as part of the research process there was regular contact with a social worker and a police advisor. “The social worker not only talked through the facts, and how Miriam’s life would be, but also talked through the philosophy behind the profession, and helped us find the philosophical position for the show,” he said.

Thorne, who was the writer of the drama National Treasures which explored historic sexual abuse by a famous comedian, said the subject matter of social work was particularly of interest due to his mother, who had working in the caring profession with adults with learning difficulties.