From 22 January 2015, Hesmondhalgh played the role of Cleo Whitaker in the Channel 4 drama series "Cucumber", written by Russell T Davies. She also appeared in the BBC Four film "Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster," a television film about the murder of Sophie Lancaster. Hesmondhalgh played the role of Sophie's mother, Sylvia Lancaster, a role which she previously portrayed on stage. Hesmondhalgh is friends with Sylvia Lancaster and patron of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation. In 2015, Hesmondhalgh won a Royal Television Society Award for Best Female Actor in a Drama for her role as Sylvia.