Channel 4 Unveils First Look at Gritty New Drama “Truelove”
Get ready for a knockout TV twist! Channel 4 has dropped the first images of Truelove, a fresh drama from Clerkenwell Films — the geniuses behind the BAFTA-winning hit The End of the F***ing World. Set to hit screens early next year, this series is penned by Iain Weatherby (Humans) and Charlie Covell (The End of the F***ing World), promising a dark, gripping story that breaks all the rules.
Stars Lindsay Duncan & Clarke Peters Reunite in Twisted Tale of Lost Love
The new images reveal Lindsay Duncan (Birdman, About Time) as Phil, a retired ex-police chief stuck in a dull routine. Opposite her is Clarke Peters (The Wire, Da 5 Bloods) playing Ken, a lonely divorcee and ex-special forces vet. Once teenage sweethearts, these two can’t escape the past – their old flame refuses to die quietly.
Joining the star-studded cast are veterans Sue Johnston (The Royle Family) as Marion, Karl Johnson (Mum) as Tom, Peter Egan (Downton Abbey) as David, and Kiran Sonia Sawar (Murdered by My Father) as Ayesha, a young cop who senses secrets lurking beneath this tight-knit group. Phil Davis (Trying) rounds out the team as Nigel alongside Fiona Button (The Split) as Kate.
Breaking TV Norms With a Bold Twist on Age and Death
Truelove stands out by featuring a lead cast in their 70s, shattering ageist stereotypes. This isn’t your usual retirement drama – it’s a mind-bending mix of thrilling twists, sharp humour, and sizzling romance. The story centres on a pact between friends to help each other die when the time is right, sparking thought-provoking questions about euthanasia and choice.
At its core, the series reignites a long-lost love story between Phil and Ken, two souls who missed their chance at youth and now face the ultimate reckoning.
Behind-the-Scenes Powerhouse Drives the Drama
Truelove is brought to life by Clerkenwell Films with Channel 4’s Head of Drama Caroline Hollick and Commissioning Editor Rebecca Holdsworth spearheading the commission. Executive producers include Emily Harrison, Andy Baker, Petra Fried, Charlie Langdell, alongside creators Charlie Covell and Iain Weatherby. Direction is handled by Chloë Wicks and Carl Tibbetts, with Alex Walsh-Taylor producing.
BBC Studios, which fully owns Clerkenwell Films, will oversee international distribution, set to take this daring drama global.
Watch this space – Truelove promises to be Channel 4’s must-see series of the year!
