Doctor Foster: Read a full recap of series one

Doctor Foster was one of the biggest shows going when it first arrived on our tellies back in 2015. With strong analogies to the Greek myth of Medea, fans totally devoured the first five episodes starring Suranne Jones as the eponymous Doctor Gemma Foster, with Bertie Carvel as her cheating husband and Jodie Comer as his girlfriend.

With filming underway on a third series of Doctor Foster following the second in 2017, fans cannot wait to see old faces returning and whether any of the loose ends get tied up in the upcoming series. Read on for a full recap for the first season of Doctor Foster, and click here to read up on the second.

What happened in Doctor Foster series one?

Series one, episode one

We meet Doctor Gemma Foster (Suranne Jones) and her husband Simon (Bertie Carvel) immediately in what looks like a normal family life with their teenage son, Tom (Tom Taylor). After Gemma finds a chapstick in Simon's coat pocket, she jokes about it to him and doesn't think anything of it - until she gets to work (as a GP) and finds a long blonde hair on the scarf she's borrowed from him.

Her next patient is a young woman named Carly (Clare-Hope Ashitey) who's after sleeping pills, and following that, a blonde patient named Susie (Sara Stewart) comes in to invite her to a restaurant opening.

Gemma bumps into Simon's assistant, Becky (Martha Howe-Douglas), at school pick-up - and notes her long, blonde hair. At home, she probes Simon about his day and he picks up on the fact that she's a bit off with him. Their neighbours Anna (Victoria Hamilton) and Neil (Adam James) arrive for dinner, and Gemma suspiciously watches interactions between Simon and the blonde Anna.

After Anna quizzes Gemma about her unease, Gemma tells Anna what she's found and Anna tries to reassure her about Simon. After they leave, Simon confronts Gemma about her attitude and afterwards, she goes through his phone. She then confides in her colleague Ros (Thusitha Jayasundera), who's a longtime friend of Simon's, and she reassures her too.

Gemma follows Simon in her car but is waylaid by a drunken man who turns out to be a former fellow doctor, Jack (Robert Pugh), who's been suspended for drinking on the job. After shaking Jack off, she sees Simon buy flowers so follows him again… Only to find that he's gone to visit his sick mother Helen (Cheryl Campbell) in a care home.

She confronts Simon after they leave his mum, who explains his absences as more frequent visits to his mum due to her increasingly poor health - but after he leaves, she checks the visitor's book, and his name does not appear. She goes to his office to look for clues and is caught by Becky, but quickly fakes that she's looking for a gap in his schedule to book a surprise holiday.

As they arrive at the restaurant opening, Simon becomes very uncomfortable when he realises whose restaurant it is and wants them to leave - they don't. Gemma invites Susie and her husband Chris (Neil Stuke) to Simon's 40th birthday party and they introduce the family to their daughter Kate (Jodie Comer).

Gemma has a cigarette outside and bumps into Carly; they open up to each other and Gemma admits she thinks her husband is having an affair. Carly comes into the GP the next day and Gemma gives her a prescription for sleeping pills in exchange for Carly's intel upon following Simon - she tells Gemma the address of the house she's followed Simon to and finally gives her devastating confirmation of an affair as she's seen him kiss a young woman with long blonde hair.

Carly finds out through a police officer friend that the car at the address belongs to Susie and advises Gemma to look in the boot of Simon's car. Gemma has a change of heart about the sleeping pills and takes the prescription away, realising it won't help Carly's real problem - her boyfriend Daniel is abusive. Gemma goes to Carly's flat and burns Daniel (Ricky Nixon) with a cigarette before threatening to ruin his life if he doesn't leave.

Gemma arrives late to Simon's 40th birthday and finds a secret phone belonging to Simon in the boot of his car. It has pictures of him with his girlfriend - and it's Susie's daughter, Kate. She also finds texts from Ros giving Simon a heads up that Gemma suspects him. Reeling from her discovery and incensed by the betrayal, Gemma enters the party with a pair of scissors, but hides them when Simon burns himself and she tends to his injury. He then makes a speech about how important she is to him, and she spots Kate in the crowd - before making a point of passionately kissing Simon in front of everyone.

Series one, episode two

Gemma leaves the party saying she's ill, and drives so fast that she knocks her wing mirror off. Tom has also picked up on her odd behaviour, and worries out loud that his parents might get a divorce. After Tom goes to bed, Gemma rips all the photos and memories off their fridge before packing Simon a bag and leaving it by the front door.

Ros turns up at the house with the wing mirror and Gemma confronts her, asking how long she's known about Simon's affair. She's known for about a month after Simon came in with a suspected STI, getting the all-clear. Ros promises that she's been threatening to tell Gemma and was giving him the chance to come clean himself, adding that he told her the affair had been going on about three months. Later, Simon turns up drunk at home, stumbles straight past the suitcase and goes to bed. She decides to put everything back.

At work, Gemma spots Kate in the waiting room and shuffles patients so she can take her appointment instead - something Kate is clearly unhappy about. During the uncomfortable encounter, Kate mocks Gemma (not knowing that she knows about the affair) and talks about her boyfriend's "clueless" wife... Before the pair are left in shock as a pregnancy test turns positive.

Kate demands to see Ros instead, while Gemma spots her original patient, Anwar (Navin Chowdhry), storm out of the building and chases him down in the car park where he reveals he's a solicitor and concerned about symptoms of a brain tumour, but Gemma reassures him. When she goes back in, Ros debriefs Gemma - Kate wants an abortion. They disagree on whether Simon should know about the baby.

Later that night, Gemma meets Carly for a drink and bumps into Anwar at a bar who confesses that his wife is six months pregnant and doesn't know that he was actually diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour five years before - vital information to have left out of his initial conversation with the doctor. Gemma tells him that even if he doesn't tell her, she'll find out "in the post-mortem". He mentions that he's a divorce lawyer before he leaves his phone and Gemma calls his wife.

On the way home, Gemma spots Jack looking worse for wear, and takes him back to his house where it transpires that they've known each a long time and are family friends. Jack opens up about his drinking on account of the passing of his husband, and Gemma tells him about Simon's infidelity - to which Jack admits that this was typical behaviour before he met Gemma, adding that his dad cheated on his mum and left her. He advises her and Tom to leave the town.

Gemma confronts Simon, asking him outright if he's cheating on her and telling him she could forgive an affair if he told her the truth - but he devastates her as he denies it again. She then gives Jack a train ticket and sends him to live with a friend named Mary (Elizabeth Rider) on the coast where she grew up, giving him a new start in a new place with a new companion.

Gemma, Tom and Simon visit his mum, who privately admits to Gemma that she knows about the affair - accidentally revealing it's been going on for two years. Helen encourages Gemma to tell him about Kate's baby before the abortion, so she has Ros ring and tell him. Later, Anwar rails at her for calling his wife but admits it worked out for the best, as his wife will be attending his impending brain tumour scan with him. Gemma books in a meeting with Anwar to discuss divorce options.

Series one, episode three

At her meeting with Anwar, Gemma discovers that he handles all the money side of everything and there are some accounts she's not privy to. She decides to approach her promiscuous neighbour Neil, who happens to be Simon's accountant, to discuss money over dinner. Simon, Gemma and Tom also visit Simon's mother Helen, whose health is deteriorating rapidly, and we can see Gemma and Helen having a private discussion later.

Gemma directs Carly to go to Kate's house and pretend that she's just moved to the area - and that she's also pregnant. She duly does so, going back round later on under the guise of having ordered two copies of a pregnancy book by accident. Kate invites her in for a cup of tea and they chat, as Kate slowly opens up to Carly and discloses that Simon promised her that if she kept the baby, he'd tell Gemma straight away and leave her... Adding that it'd been nearly two weeks since then. Carly advises her to leave him.

As this conversation is happening, Ros has gone round to pay Simon a visit. He admits that he loves them both, but is deeply concerned about losing Tom. Ros gives the game away when she pushes him too far, and Simon guesses that she's been sent there under Gemma's instructions. Ros quickly changes tact, admitting that Gemma IS behind it - but not suspecting an affair, and is instead concerned about their money and accounts. Simon admits that everything is hanging on a knife edge until the project is finished.

Another simultaneous encounter is happening between Gemma and flirty neighbour Neil, who are clearly undressing each other with their eyes. Gemma asks to go over Simon's accounts, which Neil says he can't do due to confidentiality. Instead, they head upstairs to a hotel room that Neil booked in advance and sleep together. Early in the morning, Gemma blackmails Neil, saying she'll tell his wife Anna everything unless he shows her the accounts - and Neil realises he's been played.

Gemma hurries home, falls asleep on the sofa and is awoken early doors by Simon and Tom, who's found a load of negative reviews online from her patients. After work, she visits Neil who reveals all - things are not looking good. Money that had been saved for Tom's future from Gemma's late parents was tied into Simon's projects, and the house has even been remortgaged - for which Simon has forged Gemma's signature. He also tells her there's an investor called White Stone who's significantly tied up in the project.

Kate breaks up with Simon and tells him she's had an abortion, and he follows her into the pub where Carly works - who later recounts the whole thing to Gemma. Simon receives a call in the middle of the night to explain that his mum has passed away after taking an overdose of sleeping pills. The family rally round each other, and Gemma tells Anwar that she's changed her mind about the divorce.

Series one, episode four

Ros interrogates Gemma at work, in disbelief that she's staying with Simon and staying quiet. Fellow doctor Nick (Peter De Jersey) then delivers bad news - someone has filed an official complaint about her, which will be taken further in light of the online reviews and question marks around how Simon's mother got the sleeping pills.

They have a nice family dinner to celebrate their anniversary, but in the morning, Nick and Ros tell Gemma's she's suspended for two weeks pending an investigation into her conduct. Ros admits she found sleeping pills and anti-sickness medication in Gemma's bag the day before her mother-in-law's death, and that she told the police. Gemma tells her she confiscated them from Jack, and after showing Ros she still has them, Ros offers to tell the police she got it wrong.

Gemma goes to visit Carly and her boyfriend is back, but sober now. She asks him to rescind his complaint, but he refuses - even when Gemma offers to bribe him. Gemma and Simon put on a united front at Tom's football match, despite Kate and her family also attending. Kate's mum Susie invites Gemma and Simon round for tea, which Gemma accepts, unbeknownst to Simon. She tells Simon about the suspension in the parking lot and they share a tender moment while he comforts her - but the spell is broken when he receives a text message which is clearly from Kate.

Gemma suggest they go out for pizza to celebrate Tom's football match, but Simon suddenly can't after receiving another message. She follows him to his office in the car - with Tom - and sees Simon kissing Kate after his assistant Becky directs her gaze to the office garden. Gemma leaves Tom at the office and announces she's going away for a few days, asking Becky to cover for her.

Gemma arrives at the coast and finds Jack, along with Mary - a friend who took Gemma in as a teenager after the death of her parents. She talks to Jack about Simon's continuing affair, and has a heated conversation with both Jack and Mary about what to do. In the middle of the night, Gemma walks out to the beach and answers a call from Simon, giving him the opportunity to come clean - which he denies. She ends the call, screams in anguish and swims out to sea, before floating and then eventually going underwater.

Jack comes out to find her and panics when he finds her phone left on the beach. She appears, bedraggled and soaking but steeled, telling him she wanted to drown but changed her mind. She goes home and picks up Tom from school, seeing Becky there and asking her for a favour. At home, she tells Simon they're going to be late for dinner and Becky arrives to babysit. They leave with Simon still none the wiser about where they're going - until they arrive at the Parks' house and his face drops with terror.

Susie and Chris are also bemused to see them as Gemma's apparently got the day wrong - although this is clearly not an accident from her perspective - but the family invite them in anyway. Simon tries to convince Gemma to leave - especially when Chris says their kids are there - but Gemma is insistent that they stay.

Series one, episode five (season one finale)

Simon is still desperately trying to leave as they're welcomed into the house, but everyone ignores him. Chris gives them a tour of the home and invites them over for a holiday to their place in France - which is named Pierre Blanche. They bump into a bemused and unsettled Kate who goes to help her dad with drinks while Simon berates Gemma for getting the day wrong.

She smashes a vase on purpose during his ranting, and Chris looks noticeably bothered by it when he returns with drinks but insists it isn't a problem. Kate puts her head through the door and remarks it was her mum's with an obviously distressed tone. Gemma probes Chris about going into business with Simon and Kate returns to clean up, commenting that Susie is upset about the vase.

As Gemma and Kate are seated next to each other at the dinner table. Gemma makes conversation by reductively asking how Kate's job as a waitress at her dad's restaurant is going, and she says she wants to go into events and makes a point of bringing up divorce parties.

She then asks about Kate's boyfriend, with Kate incredulously questioning doctor-patient confidentiality. Susie then asks what's happened at the GP and Gemma explains her suspension, admitting she did burn Carly's boyfriend and adds that she's been stressed at home. Simon attempts to change the subject, but Gemma drops the bombshell that he's been having an affair for two years.

She then mentions the name of Chris' holiday home - Pierre Blanche - and translates it: White Stone, the name of Simon's secret investor. Kate's ears prick up at this revelation; she didn't know about Chris' involvement. Gemma spells out that it's illegal for Chris to pull strings at the council as he's an investor, as Kate blasts at Simon for keeping that a secret from her - in turn revealing they have a closer relationship than her parents knew about.

Gemma proceeds to tell Susie and Chris about Kate and Simon's relationship - and the baby. Kate screams and slams Gemma's head on the table, with Gemma leaving the chaos behind her. Simon comes to find her and she reveals she knows all about the investing thanks to Neil - boldly confessing her infidelity. Simon says he still loves her, but Gemma tells him it's over. Kate leaves the house and Gemma notices she's still pregnant - and with that revelation, Simon goes with her over Gemma, begging Gemma not to tell Tom.

She goes over to Anna and Neil's, with Anna admitting that she knew about Neil's multiple infidelities - and about Gemma's own dalliance with him. Anna admits they even went out for a drink with Simon and Kate, and Gemma works out that Anna was behind the negative online comments about her. She agrees to remove them, but it's clear she's taken the wind from Gemma's sails.

Simon wakes up with Kate and they agree to keep the baby after all. She offers to talk to her dad in the hopes of keeping the funding going, but their happy moment is interrupted by a knock at the door… And it's Tom. He looks bemused and disgusted to see Kate answer and asks for his dad, saying that his mum dropped him off as Simon would be taking him to school. Tom asks outright whether they're sleeping together, which they deny, but as Simon goes to get dressed Tom realises Kate is the older sister of his school friend, putting her and Simon's age gap into sharper focus.

Simon goes back to Gemma's house and Kate visits her dad, pleading with him to keep investing in Simon's business until the project is complete. He darkly admits that Simon has been a terrible business partner and that he won't keep it going just for Kate. She admits she's still pregnant and he says she can move back in with them - but it's over for the business with Simon. After she leaves, Gemma comes downstairs - she's overheard the whole thing.

She heads to the GP's which is in chaos, and Ros takes her through to the back room - where Simon's waiting for her. They argue and Ros has called social services as Simon has clearly spun them a yarn about what happened earlier that morning. She goes to the school to pick up Tom and Simon's already called ahead to ask them not to release him - but they can't legally keep him there and Tom goes with Gemma.

He shouts at her as she drives erratically and they stop in a field and have a huge blow-out argument where Tom accuses her of never being there for him and working all the time. She's totally defeated as he admits he likes his dad but not her, and she walks round to the back of the car and grabs some scissors.

She gets back to her home where Simon's waiting for her and recounts a memory of a family holiday they all shared. She asks him why he had the affair and he blames "biology" and that it's a regular occurrence in married people. Gemma shows Simon the hair she's holding in her hand, leading him to believe it's Tom's and that she's killed their son.

Simon runs to the door in disbelief, not knowing what to do - and Tom's standing there with Carly, safe and sound. He screams at his dad, finally knowing everything that he's done, and Gemma admits it's her own hair. He grabs hold of Gemma and rushes her to the back window - where he smacks her head against the glass and she falls, unconscious.

Kate turns up, spots Carly and realises she's in on the pretence. Anna comes running over as Simon has called her, and enters the kitchen to find Gemma lying in a pool of blood while Simon sits with his head in his hands and admits he hit her - and that he has not yet called an ambulance. Tom comes downstairs and sees what Simon has done to Gemma.

Some time later, Gemma wakes up looking happy and content, spends time with Tom and has a friendly interaction with Anna and Neil. She signs papers at Anwar's office and is offered her job back by Ros. She goes into town for a coffee with Tom and sees Kate, who is now heavily pregnant and tells Gemma they're moving to London for a new start. Simon arrives in a car to pick her up and shares a look with Gemma.

Author: Emma Dodds

Emma Dodds is a Digital Content Editor across Bauer Media's Rayo brands, including the Hits Radio Network, Greatest Hits Radio, KISS, Cool FM and Magic Radio. With a focus on long-form features, Emma prefers digging into a topic and really uncovering a well-rounded view of an artist - using honed SEO skills to figure out the answers to the questions people are really interested in. She especially enjoys a deep dive on song meanings analysis and lyrics interpretation!

• Suranne Jones