Skip to content
Liar centres around a couple going on a date and a particular situation allegedly happening, but one of them is the titular liar, but who?
(Of course, I’m not saying, as that would rather defeat the point of you watching this brilliant drama which premieres next Monday on ITV at 9pm)
Teacher Laura (Joanne Froggatt) has recently split from ex-cop Tom (Warren Brown) when her surgeon sister Katy (Zoë Tapper) points her in the direction of her fellow operating colleague and very dashing Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd – above with Ms Froggatt, who I remember coming to the fore as Hornblower, but later as the ‘Wetwork Man’ in Horrible Bosses!). They look a great couple together, so what could go wrong?
Well, a lot, since Laura comes round the next morning, as if she’s taken something desperately intoxicating. He’s long since gone, but via official channels, she accuses him of ra -pe. Of course, he denies everything, while flashbacks to the night in question show nothing out of the ordinary, but what follows in the first episode is the aftermath of dealing with it – him trying to come to terms with an accusation, and her having made the accusation. But is it true?
The title, “Liar“, suggests Laura is making it up, but given the way the episode panned out, I was unsure either way.
The drama is gripping in this dark mystery, making me wonder if this is ‘The next Broadchurch‘?, or perhaps a variation on The Affair, in terms of the answers never being clear, thus furthering the intrigue as the skilful writing leaves you guessing throughout.
As usual, Joanne Froggatt is an absolute powerhouse of an actress, while Ioan Gruffudd is superb as the potential suitor/rapist. There are additional revelations to come in this first episode, but the only thing I’m going to tell you about them is that I’m NOT going to tell you about them. Tune in next Monday at 9pm…
In addition, there’s a superb score with soft gentle music to accompany the traumatic situation, ramping up the tension later on, and it comes from Glenn Gregory – yes, him from Heaven 17!
UPDATE: The series maintained its tension brilliantly throughout, and we’re promised a second series, but how? Ooh, I’m looking forward to it!
Liar begins on Monday September 11th on ITV at 9pm, and then later on the ITV Hub. The series is available to pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD, ahead of its release on October 23rd, and click on the packshot for the full-size version.
Series 1: 9/10
Director: James Strong
Producer: Eliza Mellor
Writers/Creators: Harry Williams and Jack Williams
Music: Glenn Gregory
Cast:
Laura Nielsen: Joanne Froggatt
Andrew Earlham: Ioan Gruffudd
Katy Sutcliffe: Zoë Tapper
Tom Bailey: Warren Brown
Luke Earlham: Jamie Flatters
DI Vanessa Harmon: Shelley Conn
DS Rory Maxwell: Danny Webb
Liam Sutcliffe: Richie Campbell
Olly Sutcliffe: Ethan Risk
Max Sutcliffe: Fraser Risk
Tsion Habte: Makeda Kidane
Birav Suri: Akbar Kurtha
Rebecca: Donna Banya
Ewen: Fin Bennett
Nick Piller: Oliver Maltman
Cab Driver: Andrew Greenough
SARC Nurse Forensic Examiner: Franc Ashman
Andrew’s Solicitor: Steven O’Neill
Kayaker: Freddie Greaves
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.