Channel 4's six-part thriller Hunting Alice Bell launches this evening, following five women whose identities are mistaken for that of a serial killer's partner. The drama, inspired by real events, centres on Fran, whose life is upended when online speculation identifies her as Alice Bell, a woman believed to be living under a new identity.
As the accusations spark harassment, Fran discovers she is not alone and brings the targeted women together to clear their names. Written by comedian David Baddiel, the series features familiar faces from Killing Eve, Sherlock and Death in Paradise.
Meet the Five Accused Women
Fran – Alexandra Roach
Fran Da Silva is played by Alexandra Roach, a 39-year-old Welsh actress known for roles as Becky in Utopia and DS Joy Freers in No Offence. She also appeared in two instalments of Killing Eve.
Roach said of her character's journey: "The scenes where Fran decides to use her voice. I don't think she's ever done that before, so it's a big leap for her: speaking out, becoming the centre of this group of women and putting herself in the spotlight isn't in Fran's make-up, while some of the other women feel more comfortable doing it."
Julie – Amanda Abbington
Julie is played by Amanda Abbington, an English actress recognised for roles as Josie Mardle in Mr Selfridge and Mary Morstan in Sherlock. She also took part in the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing, paired with Giovanni Pernice.
Vanessa – Emily Barber
Vanessa is played by Emily Barber, a 35-year-old actress who has appeared in Endeavour, Call the Midwife and Bridgerton. She also featured in the debut season of MobLand and made a guest appearance in Midsomer Murders in 2025.
Ros – Toni O'Rourke
Ros is played by Toni O'Rourke, best known for her role as Robin Lonergan in The Boy That Never Was and as Nina in Cold Courage.
Charlotte – Christina Bennington
Charlotte is played by Christina Bennington, a Northern Irish theatre actress and singer who took the lead role of Raven in Bat Out of Hell: The Musical. Her only other television credit was Cortana in the second series of Halo.
Supporting Cast and a Terrifying Villain
Nick – Rudi Dharmalingam
Nick is played by Rudi Dharmalingam, a 45-year-old actor known for parts as Tariq Mistry in Hollyoaks and James Cutler in The Split. He also played Nik Katira in the Australian drama Wakefield. Roach said: "I loved working with Rudi. The schedule was intense, and we were thrown together in Ireland, so we had to make it work."
Graham Hunter – Ralf Little
Graham Hunter is played by Ralf Little, a 46-year-old English actor, writer and former semi-professional footballer, known for roles in The Royle Family, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and Death in Paradise. He left medical school at the University of Manchester to pursue acting.
Dr Jason Nash – Simon Pegg
Serial killer Jason Nash is played by Simon Pegg, a 56-year-old English actor and comedian best known for Spaced and co-writing Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End.
Baddiel recalled Pegg joining the production: "The moment I loved most was when Simon Pegg came in to play Dr Jason Nash. We only had him for about four days." He described the first scene as a police interview flashback, adding: "Simon played it very straight and realistically. I said, 'That's brilliant. Can you just give it an edge - more psychopath?'"
"He did, and I got goosebumps. Suddenly there he was: Dr Jason Nash, and he was terrifying," Baddiel said.
Additional guest stars include Mason Dhokia as Jay, Aiyana Bartlett as Violet, Shobu Kapoor as Christine and Aarian Mehrabani as Ashley.
Hunting Alice Bell airs on Channel 4 from November 11 at 9pm.
