5’s mainstays Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay face off against one another in Number One Fan, a four-part thriller which follows the shocking fallout when a morning TV star crosses paths with her biggest admirer.
After Donna Hughes (Lindsay) steps in when a mugger tries to steal a bag belonging to none other than the “nation’s sweetheart”, Lucy Logan (Halfpenny), while walking through a carpark, the TV presenter welcomes her into her inner circle. But unbeknownst to Lucy, that is the catalyst for a shocking chain of events.
“Lucy’s gratitude quickly sours when Donna’s fandom turns into a darker obsession infiltrating Lucy’s career, family and friends,” reads the official synopsis.
“However to her horror, Lucy comes to realise that Donna has a link to a hidden secret in her past which threatens to derail the career she has so carefully curated.”
Speaking about what you can expect, Lindsay described the series as “dark and a bit of a rollercoaster”, adding: “You think it’s taking you down one path with this famous TV presenter, the queen of daytime television, who meets someone who adores her and then you go down this completely different path that you’re not expecting.
“When I read it, I was like, ‘Well, I didn’t see that coming.’ It’s quite contemporary but it also explores television’s past and things that just wouldn’t happen now. For me and for Jill, we’ve been knocking around for nearly 30 years, so we remember living through all that.”
Meanwhile, Halfpenny said viewers will enjoy the show because “it is set in a world that we all know and that we all maybe have a love/hate relationship with”.
“Some people don’t like daytime television, some people absolutely live for it. But it’s very familiar,” she added.
“And it’s not a world that gets delved into that often – people having hushed conversations in dressing-rooms. That’s all quite fun. It’s very well written. And the propulsion of it really makes you want to watch the next one and the next one and the next. It goes at quite a lick.”
Alongside Halfpenny and Lindsay, several recognisable faces appear in the series, plus some you might not be familiar with. So, who do they play and where have you seen them before?
Read on for a rundown of the major cast and some of the players who join them.
Number One Fan cast
- Jill Halfpenny plays Lucy Logan
- Sally Lindsay plays Donna Hughes
- Daniel Adegboyega plays Shawn Logan
- Dean Andrews plays Stewart Jones
- Sharlene Whyte plays Mel
- Harvey Rhys-Conway plays Jacob Logan
- Erin Shanagher plays Jane Shelley
- Tiffany Gray plays Tabbie Marwell
- Ben Stevenson Langley plays Ben Hughes
- Freddie Dawson plays Vince
- Sushil Chudasama plays Tommy
- Bryan Quinn plays Ruairi
- James O’Driscoll plays Cillian Carr
For more information about the characters and where you’ve seen the actors who play them before, read on.
Jill Halfpenny plays Lucy Logan
Who is Lucy Logan? A daytime TV host, described by Halfpenny as “tenacious, ambitious, and fun”.
“I enjoyed playing Lucy. She is always on a mission. I like a woman on a mission.”
What else has Jill Halfpenny been in? Her extensive credits include EastEnders, Coronation Street, Byker Grove, Waterloo Road, Liar, The Drowning, The Holiday, The Cuckoo and Everything I Know About Love.
Sally Lindsay plays Donna Hughes
Who is Donna Hughes? Donna is walking through a carpark when she intervenes to stop Lucy’s handbag from being stolen.
“Donna sees this, and Donna being ex-military literally goes into survival mode, and gets the bag off this lad, and gives him a smack,” said Lindsay. “As she gives the bag back to Lucy, she realises who she is. So that’s their first meeting.”
What else has Sally Lindsay been in? Most people will know her from Coronation Street, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, Still Open All Hours, Cold Call, Scott & Bailey and Mount Pleasant.
Daniel Adegboyega plays Shawn Logan
Who is Shawn Logan? Lucy’s partner. “At the start of this story she would say, ‘Yeah, yeah, everything’s great.’ But I think if she was honest with herself, she would say that her relationship is not as solid as she would like it to be,” said Halfpenny.
“Sometimes when two people are so, so busy life just propels them along. It’s only when you really need somebody or look into their eyes and ask them what is really going on that you think oh dear, we have let a lot of things slide here.”
What else has Daniel Adegboyega been in? Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale, Underground and Transformers: The Last Knight are just some of the titles he’s appeared in.
Dean Andrews plays Stewart Jones
Who is Stewart Jones? A TV host who’s been exiled for reasons that become clear. “Stewart Jones is an amalgamation of people,” said Lindsay. “We all know who they are. He has a level of arrogance, even now, 25 years later, thinking he was absolutely fine. He still thinks it was all a big conspiracy against him. He doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong. That level of arrogance is astounding.”
What else has Dean Andrews been in? He’s best known for Emmerdale, Last Tango in Halifax, Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.
Sharlene Whyte plays Mel
Who is Mel? Lucy’s manager. “Sharlene Whyte is unbelievably good as Mel,” said Lindsay. “There are a lot of intense female scenes going on. A lot of strong characters rubbing up against each other.”
What else has Sharlene Whyte been in? You might know her from The Story of Tracy Beaker, Waterloo Road, Mr Loverman, Sherwood and Stephen.
Additional cast includes:
- Harvey Rhys-Conway plays Jacob Logan – Lucy’s 16-year-old son.
- Erin Shanagher (The Bay) plays Jane Shelley – a news reporter
- Ben Stevenson Langley plays Ben Hughes – a man who lost his life.
- Freddie Dawson (Waterloo Road) plays Vince – Jacob’s crush.
Number One Fan premieres on 5 at 9pm on Monday 5 May. The remaining three episodes will air across three consecutive nights. All episodes will also be available to stream from 10pm.
Add Number One Fan to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
