What to watch tonight: Forever Home arrives to Channel 5 as Shetland and Downton Abbey stars bring Graham Norton’s bestselling novel to life
A star studded cast bring the presenter's 2022 novel to our screens in an unmissable adaptation
If you're looking for something to watch tonight on TV, look no further than Channel 5's adaptation of Graham Norton's bestselling novel, Forever Home.
If you've read the novel, don't expect it to be a truly faithful to the source material, but you can expect to find yourself gripped and fully immersed in this take on the psychological thriller.
The six-part show, airing from September 14, is led by Downton Abbey's Amy Nuttall, and Shetland's Douglas Henshall. Amy Nuttall takes the role of Carol, who is married to the much older Robert (played by Henshall.)
Robert is suffering from dementia, and as his condition worsens, some unsettling information comes to light.
When Robert won't leave his home and has visible anxiety about its hidden basement, Carol starts to wonder if his agitation has something to do with with the disappearance of his first wife Joan, who ran off with Robert's brother 20 years ago.
Robert had been left to bring up his two young children Kaden and Sally alone when Joan apparently left for a new life.
When Carol begins her own investigation, she's horrified to discover a body in the basement's freezer, and it looks like Joan could have been murdered.
But getting the truth out of Robert is difficult, with his confusion and poor memory hindering those trying to untangle his secrets.
Joining Amy Nuttall and Douglas Henshall in the series are Denise Welch (Waterloo Road), Lewis Cope (Emmerdale), Jenny Walser (Heartstopper), Shane Zaza (Happy Valley) and Kevin Whately (The Inheritance).
Delving into the differences between the novel and the TV series, the first major change is the setting - Irishman Graham Norton understandably set the book in his home country. However, the series sees Ireland switched out for North-East England.
The cast also share with Radio Times the other major diversion from the source material - that the person responsible for the murder in the TV series is actually different to who did it in the novel.
Amy Nuttall says that viewers "won’t know what's coming," with audiences being "kept on their toes" as a result. The actress also teases "more twists and turns than there are in the book."
"Nobody will be able to spoil it for others online or down the shops," points out Jenny Walser, who takes the role of Sally. She adds that for those who think, "Well, I've read the book and I know what happens," the answer will be, "no, you don't."
Jenny says this change is "just an added extra," and "a bonus, hopefully that the audience will love."
For those worried about this change from the book, the actress urges them not to be concerned, because "the heart of the novel is still very much intact, very much there".
Graham Norton was happy with the changes made to his original material and very "gracious" about handing it over to the crew to be creative with.
Amy Nuttall says "there has to be some changes," sharing that audiences will find they've been made "beautifully and brilliantly."
Forever Home airs on Channel 5 from September 14.
