ITV lines up Grey's Anatomy star Kevin McKidd for twisty thriller The Only Suspect
Buried secrets, ’90s Camden and one very nervous suburban husband
Last updated 4 hours ago
ITV has announced The Only Suspect, a new psychological thriller starring Grey's Anatomy star Kevin McKidd. Adapted from the bestselling novel by Louise Candlish, the four-part drama explores the tensions beneath an apparently ordinary life.
Shifting between a quiet, leafy London suburb and the vibrant Camden scene of the mid-1990s at the height of Cool Britannia, the story gradually uncovers long-buried secrets. As past and present collide, questions of memory, identity and guilt rise to the surface, keeping viewers guessing until the truth is revealed.
What’s the show about?
ITV explains The Only Suspect is set in a leafy London suburb, and follows Alex and Beth, a devoted couple whose 'picture-perfect suburban life hides a devastating truth. Moving between the present day and the sweltering summer of 1995 in Camden, at the height of Cool Britannia, the story opens when a young man buries a body during a violent storm.'
The synopsis continues: 'Who the victim is, and why they were killed, is a mystery that tantalisingly threads through the narrative as past and present collide. Thirty years later, another heatwave grips a very different world, and the abandoned railway track where the body was hidden – running behind Alex and Beth’s street – is being transformed into a nature trail, spearheaded by Beth herself.'
Adding: 'What is a triumph for the neighbourhood instead threatens catastrophe for Alex, because Alex is the young man who buried the body. Having spent decades living under an assumed name, he now faces the unravelling of everything he has built, as diggers prepare to break ground on the very spot where his secret lies and his carefully constructed life spirals. He must decide how far he is willing to go to keep the truth buried.'
Described as a 'gripping, twisting thriller', The Only Suspect explores obsession, deception, betrayal, the consequences of the recklessness of youth and secrets that refuse to stay hidden.
ITV notes that Simon's script full to the brim with author Louise's trademark 'whiplash plot twists and turns, delivering an intoxicating blend of emotional punch and edge-of-your-seat tension, and highlighting two starkly contrasting eras.'
Who is in the cast?
The Only Suspect stars Kevin McKidd in the complex, multilayered role of Alex. Other cast members are to be announced. Commenting on joining the series, Kevin said: "Working with ITV on The Only Suspect feels like coming home for me. As an actor, the complex and multilayered role of Alex is exciting to explore and I can’t wait to collaborate with Farren, the whole team at Red Planet Pictures and an amazing ensemble of great British actors."
ITV Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair-Jones said: "Once again, Simon Ashdown has woven a thrilling story from Louise Candlish's bestselling novel that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Brilliantly produced by the team at Red Planet, The Only Suspect promises to deliver a gripping story full of shocking revelations and twists. It promises to be a real treat for the ITV and ITVX audience."
Tom Mullens, for Red Planet Pictures added: "The Only Suspect is another riveting thriller from the prolific pen of Louise Candlish and after the success of Our House, we’re excited to be working with Simon Ashdown and ITV once again. We’re also thrilled to have Kevin McKidd leading a brilliant cast and Farren Blackburn on board as director to bring this twisting tale of a man trying to escape his past, to life."
Behind the camera, the four-part drama will be executive produced by Belinda Campbell and Tom Mullens on behalf of Red Planet Pictures. The series is written by Simon Ashdown and executively produced by Campbell and Mullens for Red Planet Pictures and by Polly Hill and Huw Kennair-Jones for ITV. The series is directed by Farren Blackburn and produced by Sumrah Mohammed, with Ashdown and Blackburn also serving as executive producers.
When does it air?
Filming will begin in London this Spring. An exact air date has not yet been announced.
Where can I watch it?
The series will air on ITV and its streaming platform ITVX.
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