The first look at a new Graham Norton drama, which boasts former Emmerdale and Coronation Street stars, has been revealed. The Channel 5 series, based on Norton's 2022 novel Forever Home, is set to be a must-watch for fans of the Irish presenter.
Star-Studded Cast Revealed
The six-part drama is led by Amy Nuttall, known to Emmerdale fans as Chloe Atkinson from 2000 to 2005. Since leaving the Dales, Amy has appeared in Downton Abbey as housemaid Ethel Parks and recently starred in the Channel 5 drama The Feud. In 2024, she made a surprise appearance in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Joining her are The Revenge Club's Douglas Henshall and Denise Welch, who played Natalie Barnes on Coronation Street for three years in the 1990s. Denise has been acting more regularly in recent years, having recently returned to Waterloo Road for the first time in over 15 years, and had a memorable stint as Trish Minniver on Hollyoaks in 2021.
More Familiar Faces
The cast also includes Inspector Morse's Kevin Whately, The Marlow Murder Club's Samantha Bond, Heartstopper's Jenny Walser, Big Boys' Shane Zaza, and Alma's Not Normal's James Baxter.
The series marks Lewis Cope's first big project since taking part in Strictly Come Dancing with Katya Jones last year. Best known for playing Nicky Miligan on Emmerdale, Lewis and Katya reached the competition's quarter-final.
Plot and Inspiration
The synopsis reads: "When Carol discovers a long-dead body hidden in the basement of her home, the horrific realisation is undeniable – she's living with a killer. The story that her husband's first wife ran away never to be seen again now looks like a lie, and the fact he's insisted on never selling the house suddenly makes sense. But one dark family secret is soon to be replaced by another."
Graham Norton previously teased the programme, saying: "In writing Forever Home, I was initially inspired by the simple idea of packing up a home later in life, and the 'what if' scenarios and complexities that come with later-life relationships. The novel soon evolved into a funny, twisted, 'dark-romp' full of farcical scenes and it's wonderful to see the depth and richness of Carol's story realized as a screenplay."
Paul Testar, Channel 5 Commissioning Editor, added: "We're delighted to partner with FilmNation and The Mediapro Studio to bring Graham Norton's compelling novel to UK screens, supported by an outstanding cast. Working with North East Screen again to champion local filming has been a pleasure, and we can't wait for viewers to immerse themselves in Forever Home."
