CHEAT is a 4-part thriller written by newcomer Gaby Hull and is produced by Two Brothers Pictures, (The Missing, Liar). Directed by Louise Hooper, (When Bjork Met Attenborough, Cold Feet, Lucky Man), Produced by Lydia Hampson (Fleabag).
CAST
The four-part drama stars Molly Windsor, who won the BAFTA best actress award for Three Girls, as student Rose, and Katherine Kelly, known for her work in Strike Back, Happy Valley and The Night Manager, as a university professor Leah.
CHEAT also stars Tom Goodman-Hill (Humans, Mr Selfridge) as Leah’s university professor boyfriend, Adam, whilst Lorraine Ashbourne (Unforgotten, Silent Witness) and Peter Firth (Spooks, Victoria) play her parents Angela and Michael. Adrian Edmondson (Bancroft, Retribution, War & Peace) takes the role of Rose’s father, William. Burn Gorman, (And Then There Were None, The Dark Night Rises), and Parker Sawyer (Southside with You)
SYNOPSIS
CHEAT is a psychological thriller set in the world of academia. It explores how far we’re prepared to stand up for what we believe is right - and at what cost. At the heart of the drama is the relationship between university professor Leah, and her student Rose. What begins as a seemingly open and shut case of academic deception, quickly spirals out of control and ends up being a dark and dangerous story about the breakdown of a relationship. The breaches of trust between two people who don’t really know each other as well as they thought.
CHEAT exposes and unpicks Leah and Rose’s public mask to reveal what lies beneath. And it is this murky underbelly of who they really are that affects their behaviour to devastating effect. Cheat is not a case of Cat and Mouse, but Cat and Cat.. two equals pitted against each other. It is a story of shifting power, and what happens when no one is prepared to back down.
REVIEWS
The Observer (10th March 2019) – Pick of the day – ‘The tension builds exquisitely over four successive nights in Gaby Hull’s menacing drama.’
‘One of the strongest drama offerings of the year’– HuffPost
Sunday Times – Pick of the week - ‘this story unfolds in tantalising flash forward.. it feels as if CHEAT might go above and beyond…'
Sunday Telegraph – Pick of the week - ‘this smart four-parter from Gaby Hull is an addictive delight that’s bolstered by strong performances - the always reliable Katherine Kelly and rising star Molly Windsor (Three Girls)
Sunday Express – Programme of the week – ‘Guaranteed to have you hooked at every twist and turn’
‘Claustrophobic and compelling, Cheat's well-matched leading ladies energize a suspenseful script to create a compulsively watchable game of cat and mouse ‘ - Rotten Tomatoes 88%
‘The thriller you’ll be obsessing over this week… intense, absorbing television’ – Refinery29
TX Feb 2020. ITV. Viewing figures 7 million, 87% on Rotten Tomatoes
A playful, mischievous thriller written by Sarah Williams, starring the magnificent Imelda Staunton, Stephen Rae, Francesca Annis, Russell Tovey, Lara Rossi, Claudie Blakley, Lydia Leonard, Sharon Small, Vincent Regan, Meir Charles, and David Bamber.
The Times - Critic’s Choice - Pick of the Week ‘Confident, mischievous.. hopelessly addictive’
Sunday Times ‘An American Beauty-style dark comedy of manners’
The Guardian ‘A visually arresting story, cleverly told’
The Standard 5 stars ‘gripping'
The Telegraph ‘A heightened, more-ish, stew of family secrets, resentments and betrayals, all playing out on the sun drenched Sussex coast.'
Daily Mail ‘Clear your diaries for an absorbing four part thriller’
The Guardian 4 stars - ‘gorge on this deliciously dread-filled thriller - it is beautifully set up.. there is a cherishable sense of deftness and overarching control about the whole endeavour that leaves you longing to find out what will happen. It is a good story well told and those two things, done well, are quite rare. You will be mopping up the last of the gravy with a heel of bread and still be left wanting more.
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Louise: “An utter joy to direct two episodes of COLD FEET”
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Louise: “I loved directing 3 episodes of STAN LEE'S LUCKY MAN, starring the wonderful Jimmy Nesbitt and Rupert Penry Jones. First woman to have directed on Lucky Man ever. Hugely enjoyed choreographing the action stunts.”
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