“An exhilarating psychological thriller”: The Party is ITV’s “perfectly cast” new betrayal drama
You’ll want to be on the guest list when exhilarating psychological thriller The Party arrives on ITV. Packed with a perfect all-star cast, including Murder Mystery actor Luke Evans, the drama follows the reunion of two former elite boarding school students at a lavish party in a country manor that ends in tragedy. A blistering commentary on class, power and shame, The Party is shaping up to become the next “eat the rich” TV obsession in the vein of The White Lotus and Nine Perfect Strangers.
Though The Party doesn’t star that particular genre’s reigning queen, Nicole Kidman, there will be another familiar face on the show. Former Good Housekeeping cover star Elizabeth Day has teased her appearance as a surprise extra, confessing: “I’ve asked to be an extra. Multiple times.” She certainly deserves her TV acting debut, given the drama was adapted from her brilliant book, also called The Party.
We can’t wait to devour The Party and to spot Elizabeth (fingers crossed!) in the show. While we patiently wait for The Party’s release on ITV, here’s everything you need to know about the show, from what it’s about to who’s in the cast.
What is The Party about?
ITV
Martin Gilmour, played by Luke Evans, a working-class lad raised by single mum Sylvia (Joanna Scanlan) enters a whole new world of power, money and class after he wins a scholarship to an elite boarding school. It’s there he befriends the wealthy and charismatic Ben Fitzmaurice, played by Tom Cullen, who’s destined to become a politician.
Three decades later Ben, now a journalist, is invited to Ben’s opulent birthday party in a sprawling manor in the countryside. But Ben wants to celebrate more than just his birthday as he considers announcing his intention to stand as the new Conservative leader after a last-minute recognition. Martin, however, is not on board with Ben’s dreams over fears the publicity could expose meticulously buried, dark secrets.
Lia Toby
Luke Evans teased what to expect from The Party, describing the book as having “the makings of something truly special for television.” He adds: “To now be bringing The Party to life – both as an actor and as an executive producer through Stoic Productions – is incredibly rewarding. Sarah Solemani’s adaptation captures the emotional depth and tension of the story perfectly, and to collaborate once again with World Productions and ITV, alongside such an extraordinary cast, is a real privilege. The Party is a gripping exploration of loyalty, class, and the truths we hide, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it.”
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Day shared her delight over the “wonderful” TV adaptation. She says: “I am so thrilled to see this wonderful adaptation of my novel, The Party, come to our screens. To be surrounded by this much talent both in front of and behind the camera is a real career highlight – I am incredibly grateful to the brilliant Luke Evans for championing my book in the first place and to everyone at World Productions and ITV who have been so steadfast in their vision for this project. I’m also very grateful to Sarah Solemani for lending her myriad talents to the adaptation. It’s unbelievably exciting to witness my characters and the imagined world they inhabit evolving into this compelling, new creative iteration. And yes, I’ve already asked to be an extra. Multiple times.”
Who’s in the cast of The Party?
ITV
- Luke Evans (Nine Perfect Strangers) as Martin Gilmour
- Tom Cullen (House of the Dragon) as Ben Fitzmaurice
- Joanna Scanlan (Riot Women) as Sylvia
- Lydia Leonard (Gentleman Jack, Wolf Hall) as Serena
- Lindsay Duncan (The Morning Show, His Dark Materials) as Lady Katherine Fitzmaurice
- Douglas Hodge (The Night Manager) as Lord George Fitzmaurice
Also joining the cast are Amaka Okafor (Bodies), Bally Gill (Slow Horses), Rakie Ayola (Falling), Sally Scott (Crow Girl, Black Doves), Sam Troughton (Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, Chernobyl), and Sinéad Matthews (Down Cemetery Road, The Crown).
Is Elizabeth Day’s book The Party any good?
Yes, The Party is a real page turner. The book scored 3.61 out of five out of over 23,000 reviews on Goodreads, which is a very impressive score indeed as the website is renowned for harsh and critical ratings. Elsewhere, The Guardian described The Party as “dark and compelling”, while The New York Times said it was an “enticing mix of social climbing, barely hidden lust and possible crimes.”
How can I watch The Party?
ITV
ITV has not yet share when The Party will be released, but did confirm that filming started last month in Wales – so it’s very much on the way. Hopefully, that means The Party will be available to watch within the next year. When it does come to our screens, it will air on ITV1 and STV1 and be available to stream on ITVX and STV Player. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll share it hre.
What other psychological thrillers can I watch right now?
Paramount
There’s no shortage of psychological thrillers, but we recommend you dive straight into Insomnia, starring the one and only Vicky McClure. In the drama, available to binge on Paramount+, Vicky plays a career-driven women who loses her grasp of reality on her 40th birthday when she starts struggling to sleep – just as her mother did before suffering a violent psychotic breakdown. Also on Paramount+ is the emotional drama Little Disasters, which stars Diane Kruger as a “mother pushed to the brink” when she’s accused of harming her child. But did she do it or not?
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