| The Couple Next Door | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Psychological thriller |
| Based on | Nieuwe Buren |
| Written by | David Allison |
| Directed by | Dries Vos |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Hannes De Maeyer |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Jennifer Burnet |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | 27 November 2023 – present |
The Couple Next Door is a British psychological thriller television series written by David Allison, based on the Dutch series Nieuwe Buren. Developed by Eagle Eye Drama for Channel 4 and Starz, the first series stars Eleanor Tomlinson, Sam Heughan, Alfred Enoch, Hugh Dennis and Jessica De Gouw. The programme was renewed for a second series which started airing on Channel 4 from 14 July 2025.[1]
Synopsis
[edit]Series 1 - Evie and her husband Pete move next door to traffic-cop Danny and yoga instructor Becka and strike up a friendship, but a night of passion between Evie and Danny could have consequences.[2]
Series 2 - Heart surgeon Charlotte Roberts life with her consultant anaesthetist husband Jacob is turned upside down when their mysterious new hospital colleague Mia rents out the house next door.[3]
Cast
[edit]- Hugh Dennis as Alan Richardson
- Janine Duvitski as Gloria
Series 1
[edit]- Eleanor Tomlinson as Evie Greenwood
- Alfred Enoch as Pete Thomas
- Sam Heughan as PC Danny Whitwell
- Jessica De Gouw as Becka Whitwell
- Kate Robbins as Jean Richardson
- Deirdre Mullins as Lena
- Joel Morris as PC Gary Hudson
- Ioanna Kimbook as Sophie Foxton
- Katie Clarkson-Hill as Rachel
Series 2
[edit]- Annabel Scholey as Charlotte Roberts
- Sam Palladio as Jacob
- Aggy K. Adams as Mia
- Sendhil Ramamurthy as Leo
- Maimie McCoy as Gemma
- Adam James as Ben
- Tanya Moodie as Yvonne
- Jackie Clune as Annette
- Barney White as Brandon
Episodes
[edit]| Series | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 6 | 27 November 2023 | 14 December 2023 | |
| 2 | 6 | 14 July 2025 | 23 July 2025 | |
Series 1 (2023)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [a] | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "New on the Block" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 27 November 2023 | N/A |
| 2 | 2 | "Little Kids Full of Sin" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 28 November 2023 | N/A |
| 3 | 3 | "Don't Stop" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 4 December 2023 | N/A |
| 4 | 4 | "I Know It's a Secret" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 5 December 2023 | N/A |
| 5 | 5 | "Inside You" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 13 December 2023 | N/A |
| 6 | 6 | "The Cottage" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 14 December 2023 | N/A |
Series 2 (2025)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [b] | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 14 July 2025 | N/A |
| 8 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 15 July 2025 | N/A |
| 9 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 16 July 2025 | N/A |
| 10 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 21 July 2025 | N/A |
| 11 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 22 July 2025 | N/A |
| 12 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Dries Vos | David Allison | 23 July 2025 | N/A |
Production
[edit]The Couple Next Door is based on the Dutch series Nieuwe Buren, with Dries Vos directing from scripts by David Allison. The six-part thriller series is produced by Jen Burnet for the London-based Eagle Eye Drama, and executive produced by Jo McGrath, Walter Iuzzolino and Alison Kee.[5]
Casting
[edit]In March 2023, it was announced Eleanor Tomlinson, Sam Heughan, Alfred Enoch, and Jessica De Gouw had been cast in the principal roles. Tomlinson described playing Evie as a "great challenge" because "she navigates devastating trauma, which isn't helped by unresolved issues from her past."[6] Heughan said he was "thrilled to be working with Eagle Eye Drama and director Dries Vos again ... Dries has a unique visual flair and I'm sure we're going to make something special."[7] Hugh Dennis described his character as someone who is dealing with ageing very badly, which made him "interesting" to him.[8]
In November 2024, it was reported that Dennis would return for season two along with characters played by Sam Palladio, Annabel Scholey, Aggy K. Adams and Sendhil Ramamurthy.[9]
Filming
[edit]Principal photography was reported to have begun in March 2023, taking place in Leeds, England, Belgium and The Netherlands.[10] Filming took place in Baildon in April 2023.[11]
Broadcast
[edit]The first series aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom on 27 November 2023, and on Starz in the United States and Canada. It was available on Lionsgate+, the international premium streaming service from Starz, in Brazil and Latin America. It was distributed further worldwide by Beta Film.[12] The second series is expected to broadcast on Channel 4 on 14 July 2025.[13]
Reception
[edit]Critical reception
[edit]The series holds a 38% "Rotten" score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 13 critic reviews with an average rating of 4.8/10.[14] Anita Singh in The Daily Telegraph described it as "nonsensical, ridiculous – and very, very bingeable".[15] Lucy Mangan in The Guardian gave the series four stars out of five and praised the script which helped the show be "sexy rather than cringeworthy".[16] There was a less positive review from Carol Midgely in The Times who found the series "cliched".[17][18]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "The Couple Next Door season 2 cast: Meet the new characters and actors who play them". Cosmopolitan. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ Chapman, Wilson (29 March 2023). "Sam Heughan Staying at Starz with Suburbia Thriller 'The Couple Next Door'". Indie Wire. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ "The Couple Next Door season 2 cast: Meet the new characters and actors who play them". Cosmopolitan. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ a b "The Couple Next Door on Channel 4". Channel 4. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (29 March 2023). "Starz & Channel 4 Greenlight Psychological Thriller 'The Couple Next Door' With Eleanor Tomlinson & Sam Heughan". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Hibbs, James (29 March 2023). "Outlander's Sam Heughan and Poldark's Eleanor Tomlinson lead new thriller". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Shillcock, Francesca (29 March 2023). "Outlander's Sam Heughan announces exciting news in major new update – and fans will be thrilled". Hello. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Mensah, Katelyn (27 November 2023). "Hugh Dennis reveals Sam Heughan throws him in a bin in The Couple Next Door". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Cormack, Morgan (12 November 2024). "The Couple Next Door gets brand new cast including The Split star as season 2 confirmed". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ Lawrence, Daniel David (29 March 2023). "Sam Heughan & Eleanor Tomlinson to Lead Psychological Thriller Series 'The Couple Next Door'". Collider. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Broomhead, Michael (25 November 2023). "The Couple Next Door: Thriller partly filmed in area to air". The Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Creamer, Jon (29 March 2023). "Shoot starts on C4, Starz drama The Couple Next Door". Televisual.com. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Cormack, Morgan (2 July 2025). "The Couple Next Door season 2 air date confirmed as The Split star joins cast for new episodes". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "The Couple Next Door: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ Singh, Anita (27 November 2023). "The Couple Next Door, Channel 4, review: nonsensical, ridiculous – and very, very bingeable". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Mangan, Lucy (27 November 2023). "The Couple Next Door review – a sexy, fantastic time with hot swingers". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Midgely, Carol (27 November 2023). "The Couple Next Door review — not king of the swingers". The Times.
- ^ "'The Couple Next Door' Defended By Channel 4 As Producers Raise Nepotism Questions". Deadline. December 2023.