Zawe Ashton has been cast as the lead in the Channel 4 (UK) original 6-part workplace comedy drama "Cut" from Clerkenwell Films.

"Cut" explores the shattered personal and professional lives of a disparate group of highly dysfunctional civil servants forced to relocate from London to Northampton following government cuts. 

Zawe Ashton stars as the mercurial Katherine, early 30s and in a near-permanent state of frustration. Turned down for an attractive pay package, recently divorced and troubled by secrets in her past, her relocation from London to Northampton to join the Immigration Pathway department may just be the last straw for her. Things are made even more difficult for Katherine when she realizes she’ll be working with Anthony, the young man partly responsible for her divorce, with whom she now has a complicated relationship.

Joining Ashton will be Sacha Dhawan, Anastasia Hille, Sophie Rundle, Jo Hartley, Tom Weston Jones and Samuel Barnett. 

According to the Channel 4 press release, "Cut" will be full of black humor, razor sharp dialogue and intricately drawn relationships – a timely acerbic workplace comedy drama which cuts straight to the quick of a lost generation.

Kieron Hawkes and Rob McKillop will direct all 6 hour-long episodes.

The series will begin filming in Glasgow this summer, to debut on Channel 4 in fall 2014.

The series is created and written by DC Moore and executive produced by Murray Ferguson and Andy Baker for Clerkenwell Films. The producer is Jemma Rodgers.