Liz Jensen’s bestselling novel The Rapture has been brought to life for the BBC, with Doctor Who’s Ruth Madeley and Queen Charlotte’s India Amarteifio leading the cast as two women whose lives become entwined in the aftermath of a disturbing tragedy.

Madeley plays forensic psychologist Dr Gabs Fox, who is assigned to the case of 17-year-old Bethany Krall, an inmate at Oxsmith psychiatric hospital. Bethany, played by Amarteifio, was sectioned two years ago for brutally murdering her own mother – a crime she claims she didn’t commit.

The case sent shockwaves across the nation, not least because Bethany is the daughter of a spiritual leader with a substantial following.

“Gabs is intrigued by Bethany, but feels uneasy around her,” said Madeley. “She’s a very interesting patient… she’s trying to convince Gabs that she didn’t kill her mother. She also says that Gabs came to Oxsmith for a reason, and the reason was to help her.”

But they don’t exactly get off on the right foot.

You can watch their fraught introduction below.

Yet, it’s not just Bethany’s alleged crime that sets her apart – she also claims she can predict the future.

“Bethany tells Gabs that she had a vision of her coming,” explained Madeley. “Gabs works with many children with psychological issues, but there’s something about Bethany that feels a little bit different.

“As they continue to work together Bethany gets more visions, she’s able to draw them out and show Gabs, and Gabs sees things coming true from these drawings. She is slowly getting reeled in, and we don’t know whether she’s being led down this wild path or whether Bethany’s telling the truth, or if Gabs is in danger.”

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Amarteifio also discussed how the relationship between Gabs and Bethany evolves, with Bethany gradually opening up to Gabs in a way she hasn’t with anyone else.

“Part of the reason Bethany can trust Gabs so much is because she sees her in her visions, she feels like she can rely on her,” she expanded. “Gabs has kind of stepped into that maternal role when Bethany doesn’t have her mother, or her father. Gabs is not only helpful in the sense of how the story goes, but also for Bethany personally.

“It’s important for her to have someone in her corner, it’s important in terms of her journey.”

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“Set during a heatwave, The Rapture stars psychologist Dr Gabs Fox (Ruth Madeley – Years and Years, Then Barbara Met Alan, The War Between the Land and the Sea), who starts a new job at a psychiatric hospital and is assigned to 17-year-old Bethany Krall (India Amarteifio – Queen Charlotte, The Midwich Cuckoos),” reads the synopsis.

“Bethany was sectioned for the murder of her mother, Carys Krall, but insists she’s innocent. The case made headlines because her father, Leonard Krall (Sam Hazeldine – The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Slow Horses), leads the Faith Way, a spiritual movement with millions of followers.

“Bethany claims she can see the future, while her nurse, Rafiq, insists her disturbing sketches of disasters always come true. As Gabs investigates, she begins to question everything she believes.

“With the help of journalist Dick Carwyn (Iwan Rheon – Those About to Die, Game of Thrones) and engineer Frasier Melville (Jack Farthing – Industry, Rain Dogs), Gabs digs into the Krall family’s past. But if Bethany didn’t kill Carys Krall, who did?”

The Rapture airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 26 July.

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