ITV has a new drama on the way, which sounds particularly messy, and fans of Harlan Coben's thrillers are going to want to pay close attention to this one. Adultery, which will be a six-part drama, is set to introduce us "to Tom's 15-year-old daughter Jess who has found love with schoolmate Ollie, and they can't take their hands off one another, as love's young dream becomes all consuming".
But of course there's a plot twist, as the synopsis goes on to reveal that "when Tom meets Ollie's mum Beth in the most unexpected of circumstances, the two families' lives are potentially turned upside down forever. Will Tom and Beth be able to control their desires unlike their lovestruck teenagers?"
So mess is precisely what we'll be getting, and ITV teased the "messy complications" that will occur in this psychological relationship drama. And as if that doesn't already sound like the perfect plot for fans of a melodramatic thriller, in the vein of the edge-of-your-seat Fool Me Once, there's another reason that Adultery should evoke those feels, considering that it's been created by BAFTA winner Danny Brocklehurst – a name that should sound familiar, considering he's been creatively involved in a whole bunch of Harlan Coben's hit screen adaptations.
Yes, Brocklehurst is the long-term collaborator of Coben, with his TV credentials including Netflix's big Coben hit Fool Me Once, as well as Stay Close and The Stranger.
So what's the latest update about ITV's Adultery, and when can you watch it? Well we know that filming is under way, with two of its stars – Dominic Cooper and Charley Webb – spotted this week on set, revealing a first look at each of their characters. You can see those here:
Dominic Cooper is set to play the aforementioned lead Tom, with the role of his "intense" love interest, as ITV describes, Beth being taken on by Romola Garai (who we previously saw during filming here).
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"As they struggle with their undeniable desires, the pair must grapple with their guilt and the potential consequences for their families," an ITV release previously described of the main romance between our protagonists Tom and Beth.
Meanwhile the central teenagers, Jess and Ollie, will be played by Leila Khan (Heartstopper) and newcomer Johnny Sanpher.
The rest of the cast and character details for Adultery includes:
- Shelley Conn (Bridgerton) as Tom's wife Hannah
- Matthew McNulty (Deadwater Fell) as Beth's husband Neil
- Andrew Knott (Gavin & Stacey) as Dave, the ex-husband of Beth's recently deceased best friend
- James Murray (The Crown) and Charley Webb (Emmerdale, The Long Shadow) as Paul and Leah, Tom's brother and sister-in-law
ITV has said of Adultery: "The provocative love story raises questions about class, grief and the effects of social media, as it takes the viewer on a rollercoaster story of passion, parenthood and peril, as Tom Kirkman and Beth Brookes embark upon a passionate and intense love affair that threatens to uproot their whole lives.
"Adultery is naturally authentic and bristling with passion as it focuses upon two ordinary families and messy complications."
Danny Brocklehurst previously said: "It's a wonderful privilege to assemble such an amazing cast for Adultery. The characters in our show have complex emotional lives and we needed the very best acting talent to bring them to the screen. I couldn't be more thrilled."
Producer Ben Stephenson of Poison Pen Studios added: "I am thrilled that we have assembled such a high calibre cast for Danny's wonderful scripts. Dominic and Romola are two remarkable actors at the peak of their careers and it's hugely exciting to see what they bring to this juicy gripping and complex show alongside their amazing co leads Matthew and Shelley."
Adultery is coming to ITV, but a release date has not been announced.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
