Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee is back with a very different sort of show – a dark, twisted thriller, co-written with husband Tobias Beer.
Channel 5’s The Deceived follows a young student reading English at Cambridge University who becomes embroiled in a heady affair with her lecturer – with their intense relationship prompting the student to travell to Donegal to find him.
As well as having razor-sharp McGee on writing duties, The Deceived has received widespread attention after casting Paul Mescal, the Emmy-nominated actor who shot to fame after playing Connell Waldron in BBC Three’s Normal People.
Here’s who else will be starring in The Deceived, starting on Channel 5 tonight…
Emily Reid plays Ophelia Marsh
English student Ophelia is studying at Cambridge University, but sees her life turned upside down when she starts an affair with her professor.
The wayward student is played by actor Emily Reid.
“As an actor, I was lucky to have the disconnect, but shooting this project did make me think how terrifying and incredibly abusive it must be to have this happen to you,” she explained when discussing the role.
Viewers may recognise Reid from ITV drama Belgravia where she starred as Sophia Trenchard.
Emmett J Scanlan plays Dr Michael Callaghan
Dr Michael Callaghan is a well-liked lecturer of literature at Cambridge, who embarks on an affair with his student. While he’s never had much luck as an author in his own right, Michael’s fortunes may be set to change with the release of his latest novel.
Emmett J Scanlan previously played Billy Grade in BBC One drama Peaky Blinders. More recently, he played Jack O’Doherty in violent Sky drama Gangs of London.
Catherine Walker plays Roisin Mulvery
An award-winning fiction writer, Roisin’s huge success in her field is a source of contention for her husband Michael.
You may recognise Walker from the film Leap Year, where she played Kayleigh. She has also starred in historical epic Versailles, Shetland and Finding Joy.
Paul Mescal plays Sean McKeogh
In the series, Sean is a volunteer firefighter and builder in Donegal, and is helping Michael and Roisin with renovations.
Naturally, Mescal is now internationally famous thanks to Normal People, and earned his first Emmy nomination last week.
Eleanor Methven plays Mary Mulvery
Mary is Roisin’s mother – an obsessive and erratic individual with an inappropriate relationship with Michael.
As well as starring as Aunt Bride in Derry Girls, Methven also played Hannah in the Little Women mini-series
Ian McElhinney plays Hugh Callaghan
McElhinny plays Michael’s father, who is starting to suffer with dementia.
Viewers may recognise McElhinney from his hilarious turn as Derry Girls’ Granda Joe, and from his role as Ser Barristan Selmy in Game of Thrones.
Dempsey Bovell plays Matthew
Bovell, who plays Michael's confidante, has previously starred in Krypton, Vera, and Patrick Melrose and Solo: A Star Wars story.
Shelley Conn plays Ruth
Playing Roisin’s intensely close friend, viewers may recognise Conn as DI Vanessa Harmon from Liar.
Louisa Harland plays Cloda O’Donnell
A local woman in Donegal and local psychic medium in Knockdara, O’Donnell is best known as the eccentric Orla McCool in Derry Girls.
The Deceived airs Monday, August 3 from 9pm on Channel 5
