Channel 5 Commissions New Psychological Thriller

Channel 5 has greenlit the new four-part thriller The Cuckoo (w.t.) from Clapperboard.

The Cuckoo follows the story of Sian, a lodger who is taken in by Nick and Jessica. She immediately begins sowing discord within the family, leaving Jessica, Nick and Alice fighting for each other and their own lives.

Filming for the series has begun in Ireland, and it is expected to air on Channel 5 in 2024.

Jill Halfpenny (The Long Shadow, Everything I Know About Love, The Holiday) leads the cast as Sian, while Lee Ingleby (The Long Shadow, The Serpent Queen, The Hunt for Raoul Moat) stars as Nick with Claire Goose (The Bay, Unforgotten, Waking the Dead) as Jessica and Freya Hannan-Mills (Swimming Home, Hereafter) as their daughter Alice. Marjorie Yates (Shameless, Moving On, Allelujah) also features.

Sebastian Cardwell, deputy chief content officer for the U.K. at Paramount, said: “We’re thrilled to be teaming up again with Clapperboard to bring this tense and twisty series to our viewers. Equipped with a gripping script and household names Jill Halfpenny, Lee Ingleby, Claire Goose and Marjorie Yates as our lead cast, The Cuckoo is another brilliant addition to our expanding drama slate.”

Suzi McIntosh, senior executive producer at Clapperboard, added: “I could not be more excited to be gathering such a fantastic and dynamic cast and crew to make this thriller that will keep us on the edge of our seats throughout. Watch this space, we are all in for a treat.”