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The Couple Next Door is a British psychological thriller television series written by David Allison. It is based on the Dutch series Nieuwe Buren. Developed by Eagle Eye Drama for Channel 4 and Starz, the first series stars Eleanor Tomlinson, Sam Heughan, Alfred Enoch, Hugh Dennis and Jessica De Gouw. The program was renewed for a second series.

Synopsis

Evie and her husband Pete move next door to traffic-cop Danny and yoga instructor Becka. They built up a friendship, but a night of passion between Evie and Danny had consequences.

Cast

• Eleanor Tomlinson as Evie Greenwood, a primary teacher
• Alfred Enoch as Pete Thomas, a journalist and Evie's partner
• Sam Heughan as PC Danny Whitwell, a traffic policeman
• Jessica De Gouw as Becka Whitwell, a personal trainer, social media influencer, and Danny's wife
• Hugh Dennis as Alan Richardson, a bookkeeper and creepy neighbour
• Kate Robbins as Jean Richardson, Alan's wife
• Deirdre Mullins as Lena, the single mother of Danny's son from a brief relationship they had before he met Becka
• Joel Morris as PC Gary Hudson, Danny's friend and fellow traffic cop
• Ioanna Kimbook as Sophie Foxton, Pete's colleague and a junior reporter
• Janine Duvitski as Gloria, an eccentric neighbour
• Katie Clarkson-Hill as Rachel, Evie's sister.

Episodes

Production

The Couple Next Door is based on the Dutch series Nieuwe Buren, with Dries Vos directing from scripts by David Allison. The six-part thriller series is produced by Jen Burnet for the London-based Eagle Eye Drama, and executive produced by Jo McGrath, Walter Iuzzolino and Alison Kee.

Casting

In March 2023, it was announced Eleanor Tomlinson, Sam Heughan, Alfred Enoch, and Jessica De Gouw had been cast in the principal roles. Tomlinson described playing Evie as a "great challenge" because "she navigates devastating trauma, which isn't helped by unresolved issues from her past." Heughan said he was "thrilled to be working with Eagle Eye Drama and director Dries Vos again ... Dries has a unique visual flair and I'm sure we're going to make something special." Hugh Dennis described his character as someone who is dealing with ageing very badly, which made him "interesting" to him.

In November 2024, it was reported that Dennis would return for season two along with characters played by Sam Palladio, Annabel Scholey, Aggy K Adams and Sendhil Ramamurthy.

Filming

Principal photography was reported to have begun in March 2023, taking place in Leeds, England, Belgium and The Netherlands. Filming took place in Baildon in April 2023.

Broadcast

The first series aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom on 27 November 2023, and on Starz in the United States and Canada. It was available on Lionsgate+, the international premium streaming service from Starz, in Brazil and Latin America. It was distributed further worldwide by Beta Film.

Reception

Critical reception

Anita Singh in The Daily Telegraph described it as "nonsensical, ridiculous – and very, very bingeable". Lucy Mangan in The Guardian gave the series four stars out of five and praised the script which helped the show be "sexy rather than cringeworthy". There was a less positive review from Carol Midgely in The Times who found the series "cliched".

Notes

1. All 6 episodes were available on Channel 4 online on 27 November

References

1. Deadline Hollywood
2. Chapman, Wilson (29 March 2023). "Sam Heughan Staying at Starz with Suburbia Thriller 'The Couple Next Door'". Indie Wire. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
3. "The Couple Next Door: Cast & crew credits and character biographies". Channel 4 Press. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
4. Robinson, Abby (6 December 2023). "The Couple Next Door cast: Meet the characters in Channel 4 thriller". Radio Times. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
5. "The Couple Next Door on Channel 4". Channel 4. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
6. Goldbart, Max (29 March 2023). "Starz & Channel 4 Greenlight Psychological Thriller 'The Couple Next Door' With Eleanor Tomlinson & Sam Heughan". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
7. Hibbs, James (29 March 2023). "Outlander's Sam Heughan and Poldark's Eleanor Tomlinson lead new thriller". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
8. Shillcock, Francesca (29 March 2023). "Outlander's Sam Heughan announces exciting news in major new update – and fans will be thrilled". Hello. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
9. Mensah, Katelyn (27 November 2023). "Hugh Dennis reveals Sam Heughan throws him in a bin in The Couple Next Door". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
10. Cormack, Morgan (12 November 2024). "The Couple Next Door gets brand new cast including The Split star as season 2 confirmed". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
11. Lawrence, Daniel David (29 March 2023). "Sam Heughan & Eleanor Tomlinson to Lead Psychological Thriller Series 'The Couple Next Door'". Collider. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
12. Broomhead, Michael (25 November 2023). "The Couple Next Door: Thriller partly filmed in area to air". The Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
13. Creamer, Jon (29 March 2023). "Shoot starts on C4, Starz drama The Couple Next Door". Televisual.com. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
14. Singh, Anita (27 November 2023). "The Couple Next Door, Channel 4, review: nonsensical, ridiculous – and very, very bingeable". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
15. Mangan, Lucy (27 November 2023). "The Couple Next Door review – a sexy, fantastic time with hot swingers". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
16. Midgely, Carol (27 November 2023). "The Couple Next Door review — not king of the swingers". The Times.
17. "'The Couple Next Door' Defended By Channel 4 As Producers Raise Nepotism Questions". Deadline. December 2023.

External links

• The Couple Next Door at IMDb

• 2023 British television series debuts
• 2020s British drama television series
• British television series based on Dutch television series
• British thriller television series
• Channel 4 television dramas
• British English-language television shows
• Psychological thriller television series
• Starz original programming
• Television series about couples
• Television shows filmed in Belgium
• Television shows shot in Leeds