Hollywood actor Luke Evans is bringing his latest gripping project to ITV screens, starring in and executive producing a five-part adaptation of Elizabeth Day’s acclaimed 2017 novel, The Party. Filmed across South Wales in Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Bridgend, the psychological thriller explores themes of class, identity, loyalty, and long-hidden secrets.
What Is ITV’s The Party About?
The story centers on Martin Gilmour, a working-class journalist played by Luke Evans, and his lifelong friendship with Ben Fitzmaurice, a wealthy and charismatic politician portrayed by Tom Cullen. The two men bonded as teenagers after attending an elite, Eton-style boarding school where Martin felt like an outsider.
The series unfolds across a tense timeline, alternating between a lavish birthday celebration at the Fitzmaurice country estate and a subsequent police investigation. As Ben weighs a major political leadership bid following a Conservative leader’s resignation, his extravagant birthday party threatens to drag up decades-old secrets with tragic consequences.
Cast and Creative Team
Alongside Luke Evans and Tom Cullen, The Party features a stellar ensemble cast:
- Lydia Leonard as Serena, Ben’s formidable wife.
- Lindsay Duncan as Lady Katherine, Ben’s mother.
- Douglas Hodge as Lord George Fitzmaurice, Ben’s father.
- Joanna Scanlan as Sylvia, Martin’s working-class mother.
- Sarah Solemani as Lucy, Martin’s pregnant wife.
Sarah Solemani, known for Ridley Road and Chivalry, adapted the novel for television. World Productions-the team behind hits like The Pembrokeshire Murders and Line of Duty-produces the series in partnership with Stoic Productions and ITV Studios, with support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.
A Deeply Personal Project for Luke Evans
For Evans, 47, who grew up in Aberbargoed, Caerphilly county, returning to South Wales for production offered a unique chance to connect his personal background with his craft. Speaking about his character, Evans noted that Martin’s journey from a working-class upbringing to rubbing shoulders with the landed gentry resonated deeply with his own life experiences.
“From the moment I read Elizabeth Day’s novel, I knew it had the makings of something truly special for television. To now be bringing The Party to life, both as an actor and as an executive producer, is incredibly rewarding.”
Author Elizabeth Day expressed her excitement over the adaptation, praising the talent involved both on and off screen. The Party is set to premiere on ITV1 and ITVX, bringing a tense, character-driven Welsh narrative to viewers nationwide.
