Marcella star Anna Friel has been announced as the lead of a new six-part 5 drama, The Heights, which is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Louise Candlish.
Friel will be joined in the series by Peaky Blinders star Conrad Khan and newcomer Kit Redding, while the supporting cast will include Diarmuid Noyes (Christy) as ex-husband Vic, Stephen Tompkinson (This is Not a Murder Mystery) as Ratcliffe, Mark Stobbart (House of the Dragon) as Justin and Charis Agbonlahor (The Hardacres) as Prisca.
Rounding out the cast will be Natasha Raphael (Malory Towers) as Freya, Yasmine Odofin (Joy) as Jade, and Jolly Abraham (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit) as DI Wilson.
The synopsis for the drama says: “Ellen (Friel) is happily living in London, a working mum, devoted to her family and fiercely protective of her children. But when her teenage son Lucas (Redding) brings new friend Kieran (Khan) home, cracks began to appear in Ellen’s family life. Kieran is rude, reckless and manipulative – leading Lucas astray, wasting his promise.
“As Lucas falls deeper under Kieran’s influence, Ellen becomes increasingly desperate to protect him – but a devastating tragedy leaves her consumed by grief, rage and a growing obsession with the truth. Jumping between the past and present day, family secrets and lies unravel in this thrilling new series.”
Candlish is an executive producer on the series, with Simon Tyrrell (Maxine) writing the adaptation and Dominic Leclerc (Sex Education) acting as the director and an executive producer. It is being made by Clapperboard Studios, with filming currently underway.
The series is set to air on 5 later this year.
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Friel said in a statement: “Really excited to be diving into this world, to work with our brilliant director Dominic and wonderful crew. We have such a strong creative team, and I hope we make something moving and entertaining.”
Meanwhile, Candlish said: “I couldn’t be happier to see The Heights adapted for 5 by the brilliant team at Clapperboard. Anna Friel is one of the finest acting talents of our generation and for her to be headlining as Ellen is truly a thrill.”
The Heights will air on 5 later in 2026.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
