ITV has released a new teaser trailer for The Party, a gripping five-part drama starring Luke Evans, and it promises to shock viewers with themes of sex, shame, and betrayal. The series, filmed in Wales, reunites Evans with the channel and the production team behind The Pembrokeshire Murders.
Plot and Characters
Based on Elizabeth Day's celebrated novel, The Party follows Martin Gilmour, played by Evans, a journalist shaped by his enduring friendship with the charismatic politician Ben Fitzmaurice, portrayed by fellow Welsh actor Tom Cullen. The story explores loyalty, class, and hidden truths.
Martin, raised by his working-class mother Sylvia (Joanna Scanlan), earns a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school where he meets Ben. The Fitzmaurice family offers Martin the acceptance he craves, and he remains fiercely loyal to Ben through various crises. Decades later, Martin attends Ben's extravagant birthday party at the family estate, but the Conservative leader's resignation threatens to expose buried secrets with devastating consequences.
The narrative alternates between disturbing events at the party, a police investigation, and flashbacks to Martin and Ben's shared history through school, university, and London's social scene.
Cast and Crew
Alongside Evans and Cullen, the cast includes Lydia Leonard as Ben's wife Serena, Lindsay Duncan and Douglas Hodge as Ben's parents, and Sarah Solemani as Martin's pregnant wife Lucy. Solemani also wrote and created the series. Additional cast members include Amaka Okafor, Bally Gill, Sally Scott, Sam Troughton, Sinéad Matthews, and Rakie Ayola.
Filming took place in Cardiff's Roath Park in December 2025, with Evans spotted preparing for scenes. The series is produced by World Productions in partnership with Stoic Productions and ITV Studios.
Release and Expectations
The Party will air on ITV1 and ITVX this autumn. Evans expressed excitement about bringing the novel to life, praising Solemani's adaptation for capturing the story's emotional depth and tension.
