Adultery centres around the budding relationship that shouldn’t be, between Beth Brookes (Romola Garai – recently on ITV in Betrayal, the one where Stockport Station was actually Liverpool!, as you can see from that review) and Tom Kirkman (Dominic Cooper – Suspect Series 2). Both are married, and a chance meeting puts her direct in his path, but they already know each other because his daughter is Jess (Leila Khan), who’s seeing her son, Ollie (Johnny Sanpher).
The title gives the obvious idea of where the main story is heading, but the opener also brings in several additional character – possibly, too many – as Beth has other issues, not least with her friend, Alison, having passed away, but the lady’s ex-husband, Dave (Andrew Knott – Protection), is kicking up a stink because Beth is the executor of the will. I got the inference that Beth was left the house in her will, since the couple had only recently got divorced after 15 years of marriage and he was very bitter about “wanting the house back”, but then an executor cannot benefit in any way.
Okay… TV drama, but, y’know.
Still, her husband, Neil (Matthew McNulty – The Jetty) has other issues going on that I’ll leave you to discover, which no doubt will want Beth needing a long holiday.
The first two episodes were available for review, and while it is good, it is a bit of a slow-burn, and – as I stated – does feel like there’s too many characters in this at times, but it does take the length of these openers to give you the best feel of the show.
Just one thing, though: Why can no men be bothered to shave?
Oh, and another ting: DON’T USE YOUR MOBILE PHONE WHILE DRIVING!!!! I don’t care if it’s “hands-free”, who do you need to have a conversation with that’s so urgent, you can’t just pull over?
Thanks to our friends at ITV for the screeners prior to broadcast.
Adultery begins Sunday night at 9pm, and airs Sun/Monday for three weeks. The entire series is online from day one at ITVX.
It’s not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but when it is, it will be listed on the New DVD, Blu-ray, 3D and 4K releases UK page.
Series Directors: Daniel O’Hara, William Sinclair
Producer: Sarah Lewis
Writer/Creator: Daniel Brocklehurst
Music: James Righton
Cast:
Beth Brookes: Romola Garai
Tom Kirkman: Dominic Cooper
Hannah Kirkman: Shelley Conn
Neil Brookes: Matthew McNulty
Jess Kirkman: Leila Khan
Ollie Brookes: Johnny Sanpher
Dave Moore: Andrew Knott
Paul Kirkman: James Murray
Leah Kirkman: Charley Webb
Daisy Kirkman: Penelope Jones
Frankie Brookes: Eryn Davies
Lily Kirkman: Amber Cheetham
Sara Rashman: Ntombizodwa Ndlovu
Douglas Wells: Jack Deam
Mr Parsons: Dana Haqjoo
Mr Wainwright: Neil Ashton
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.