The Party on ITV: Release Date, Cast, Plot, and Everything You Need to Know

The Party – Premiering Sunday, 11 October at 9:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX

ITV is gearing up to launch one of the most anticipated psychological thrillers of the autumn calendar. Created and written by award-winning showrunner Sarah Solemani (Chivalry, Ridley Road), The Party is a glossy, five-part adaptation of Elizabeth Day’s bestselling novel. Produced by World Productions—the powerhouse team behind Line of Duty and Vigil—the series dives into the dark, intoxicating world of political ambition, old money, class hierarchy, and long-buried secrets.

What Is The Party About?

The series spans three decades, focusing on the intense, complicated bond between Martin (Luke Evans) and Ben (Tom Cullen).

Raised by his working-class single mother, Sylvia (Joanna Scanlan), Martin secures a scholarship to an elite public boarding school where he meets Ben. Welcomed into Ben’s aristocratic family—the Fitzmaurices—Martin finds the sense of belonging he has always craved. In return, Martin develops a fierce, unwavering devotion to Ben through life’s greatest crises.

Thirty years later, Martin attends a lavish birthday party hosted at the Fitzmaurice country estate. The event is thrown into spin when news breaks that the Conservative Prime Minister has resigned, prompting Ben to consider launching his own leadership bid. Fearing the intense spotlight of a high-profile political campaign, Martin panics that secrets from their past will be exposed—setting off a chain reaction with tragic consequences.

The narrative moves between the shocking events at the country estate, the tense police investigation that follows, and flashbacks to Martin and Ben’s school, university, and wild London party years.

Star-Studded Cast: Where Have You Seen Them Before?

The Party features an ensemble cast blending Hollywood heavyweights with UK TV royalty:

• Luke Evans as Martin Gilmour: The Welsh star leads the series as Martin. Evans is best known globally for his roles as Bard the Bowman in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy, Gaston in Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast, and Owen Shaw in the Fast & Furious franchise, alongside acclaimed TV roles in Nine Perfect Strangers, The Pembrokeshire Murders, and The Alienist.
• Tom Cullen as Ben Fitzmaurice: Playing the charismatic political candidate, Cullen famously starred as Viscount Gillingham in Downton Abbey and lead roles in The Gold, Knightfall, and the indie film Weekend.
• Joanna Scanlan as Sylvia Gilmour: Playing Martin’s mother, BAFTA-winner Scanlan is renowned for her performances in After Love, The Thick of It, No Offence, and Getting On.
• Sarah Solemani as Lucy Gilmour: The show’s creator and writer also stars as Martin’s pregnant wife. Viewers will recognize Solemani from Bridget Jones’s Baby, Him & Her, Bad Education, and Chivalry.
• Lydia Leonard as Serena Fitzmaurice: Playing Ben’s formidable wife, Leonard’s credits include Gentleman Jack, Wolf Hall, The Crown, and Ten Percent.
• Lindsay Duncan & Douglas Hodge as Lord George & Lady Katherine Fitzmaurice: Playing Ben’s aristocratic parents, Lindsay Duncan (The Morning Show, His Dark Materials, About Time) and Tony Award winner Douglas Hodge (The Night Manager, I Hate Suzie Too, Joker) bring serious weight to the matriarch and patriarch roles.
• Supporting Cast: The ensemble includes Sam Troughton (Chernobyl, Lockerbie), Sally Scott (Black Doves), Sinéad Matthews (Hullraisers), Bally Gill (Slow Horses), Amaka Okafor (Secret Service), and Rakie Ayola (The Pact).

Where Was The Party Filmed?

Principal photography took place across South Wales, doubling for elite boarding schools, grand English country estates, and urban London settings.

Cast and crew were spotted on location in the heart of Cardiff, with major scenes filmed around the historic, Grade I-listed Roath Park. Additional filming took place throughout the Rhymney Valley and surrounding countryside to create the grand, secluded aesthetic for the Fitzmaurice estate where the main drama unfolds.

How and Where to Watch

Catch-Up & Streaming: Available to stream live or binge as a full boxset on ITVX.

TV Premiere: Aairs Sunday, 11 October at 9:00pm on ITV1.

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