Hunting Alice Bell is a major new drama coming later this year – and Radio Times has an exciting first look at the drama.
Described as a “psychological thriller built around a whodunnit with shades of family drama and social satire”, we can unveil four preview images of the series (all dotted throughout this article) which will launch on Channel 4 this autumn.
Hunting Alice Bell has been created by David Baddiel with film critic Peter Bradshaw – also co-written with Polly Buckle and Kate Verghese – and boasts a cast full of familiar faces.
Digging into themes like mob mentality, misogyny and justice, the series centres around the pervading question of who Alice Bell actually is, as several women are accused of being the social pariah.
As per the synopsis: “Alice Bell is a former nurse, and also the lover, and accomplice, of a notorious anaesthetist serial killer. She is presently living in Britain under a new identity. When, online, Fran Da Silva is accused of being Alice Bell, her happy family life implodes in a wave of mob hate.
“Then she discovers she’s not the only woman to suffer this fate. Fran and the other accused women band together to fight back and clear their names. But as they battle to prove their innocence, what if one of the group is lying – and is the real Alice Bell..?”
Hunting Alice Bell boasts some seriously stellar talent, being led by the likes of Alexandra Roach (Nightsleeper) as Fran, Amanda Abbington (Sherlock) as Julie, Emily Barber (MobLand) as Vanessa, Toni O’Rourke (God’s Creatures) as Ros and Christina Bennington (Halo) as Charlotte.
Rudi Dharmalingam (The Lazarus Project) also stars as Nick, with Ralf Little (Death in Paradise) as Graham Hunter and Simon Pegg (Mission: Impossible) as Dr Jason Nash.
The first-look pictures show Fran (Roach) looking seriously out of a window, with another shot showing her sat on a bed with Nick (Dharmalingam) and Violet (Aiyana Bartlett) as they all look concerned by what’s brewing.
Another picture shows Fran seemingly at the end of her tether as she stands on the street with Nick, brandishing her passport to those outside. We can assume she’s doing so in order to prove that she’s not the serial killer’s accomplice that many people think she is, but will it really be enough to get everyone to believe her?
The final image at the very top of this page shows Fran accompanied by Julie (Abbington), Charlotte (Bennington), Vanessa (Barber) and Ros (O’Rourke) as they sit in what appears to be a press conference with cameras pointing at them. Is everyone telling the truth?
As well as being described as stuffed with cliffhangers, the series is also “about how rumours spread and the devastating effects they cause” – something that is especially timely in an age of social media and misinformation.
The Ex-Wife’s Paul Walker, also known for his work on Trollied, Shameless and Riviera, is in the director’s chair for Hunting Alice Bell.
When Hunting Alice Bell was initially announced last year, Rachel Gesua, senior executive producer at Clapperboard Studios, said: “Hunting Alice Bell is a story for our times, exploring what happens when the online mob come for a group of ordinary women and the devastating effect that can have.
“David, Peter and the writing team have created a bold and provocative drama, brimming with unforgettable characters and brought to life by the most extraordinary cast. We are thrilled to be working with the team at Channel 4 and Sphere Abacus on such a compelling drama.”
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Hunting Alice Bell will be coming to Channel 4 this autumn.
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