Luke Evans and Joanna Scanlan star in ‘gripping’ new ITV drama The Party

A new TV drama will star Welsh actor Luke Evans and Bafta award-winning actress Joanna Scanlan, with the story based on a novel by Elizabeth Day.

The Party begun filming in Wales last month, with the five-part series due to be broadcast on ITV1 and STV on a date yet to be revealed.

The plot will see Nine Perfect Strangers star Evans as Martin Gilmour, a journalist shaped by his lifelong friendship with the wealthy and charismatic politician Ben Fitzmaurice who is played by Downton Abbey actor Tom Cullen.

Raised alone by his working-class mother, Sylvia, played by Riot Women star Joanna Scanlan, he wins a scholarship to an elite boarding school, where he first meets Ben.

The pair forge an unbreakable bond, as Ben and the Fitzmaurices give Martin the sense of belonging he has always craved. In turn, Martin remains unflinchingly loyal to Ben through even the greatest crises, producers said.

Three decades on, Martin is invited to Ben’s lavish birthday party at the Fitzmaurice’s country pile.

The drama moves between the shocking events of the party and the police investigation that follows, with flashbacks to Martin’s and Ben’s lives at school, university and during their London party days.

Evans described the drama as a “gripping exploration of loyalty, class, and the truths we hide, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it”.

“From the moment I read Elizabeth Day’s novel, I knew it had the makings of something truly special for television,” he added.

“To now be bringing The Party to life – both as an actor and as an executive producer through Stoic Productions – is incredibly rewarding.”

The Party was written and created for ITV by award-winning showrunner Sarah Solemani, who also stars as Martin’s pregnant wife, Lucy.

Lydia Leonard plays Ben’s wife Serena, while Olivier award-winning actress Lindsay Duncan and Tony award-winning actor Douglas Hodge play Ben’s parents, Lady Katherine and Lord George Fitzmaurice.

Day, whose novel of the same name was published in 2017 and acts as an executive producer on the series, said: “I am so thrilled to see this wonderful adaptation of my novel, The Party, come to our screens.

“To be surrounded by this much talent both in front of and behind the camera is a real career highlight – I am incredibly grateful to the brilliant Luke Evans for championing my book in the first place and to everyone at World Productions and ITV who have been so steadfast in their vision for this project.

“I’m also very grateful to Sarah Solemani for lending her myriad talents to the adaptation.

“It’s unbelievably exciting to witness my characters and the imagined world they inhabit evolving into this compelling, new creative iteration.”

The series will be directed by Viviane Andereggen, with Richard Burrell producing.

ITV’s director of drama, Polly Hill, said: “I am delighted to be working with Luke Evans and Simon Heath again.

“Sarah Solemani has done a brilliant adaptation of Elizabeth Day’s novel, which makes this an exciting new drama for ITV and one I think audiences will love.”