The Affair’s new rival: ITV’s Adultery is the “messy” relationship drama you won’t be able to resist watching

When it comes to gritty relationship dramas, there aren’t many that have managed to get even close to the brilliance of The Affair – at least not in our opinion. But it seems the hit Sky show finally has a rival in the form of ITV’s Adultery, the messy relationship drama you won’t be able to resist watching.

Described as "addictive" by the team behind it, the messy drama will introduce us to young lovers Jess and Ollie, who are in the throes of a new relationship and are rapidly falling deeply in love. But when their parents meet, it seems there’s another attraction forming –a forbidden one with potentially devastating consequences.

“There’s a psychological equation. It says that ‘attraction plus an obstacle equals excitement,'” reads the tantalising teaser from ITV. “But what happens if the attraction is too strong, if the obstacles are too great. What then? Do you threaten everything?”

With Adultery due to arrive on our screens this week, here’s everything you need to know about the gripping new affair drama…

What is Adultery about?

The six-part series comes from Bafta-winner Danny Brocklehurst, best known for adapting Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once (see a glimpse of the show below) and co-creating Sky's Brassic. He’s also written TV dramas including Ten Pound Poms and Stay Close – so we’ve already got pretty high hopes for this next project.

Described by ITV as a "captivating" relationship drama, the story centres around two ordinary families and the messy complications that impact them. The series will introduce us to Tom’s 15-year-old daughter Jess who has found love with schoolmate Ollie - in fact, they can’t take their hands off each, as their relationship becomes somewhat all-consuming.

However, when Tom meets Ollie’s mum Beth in the most unexpected of circumstances, the lives of the two families are potentially turned upside down for good. The question is: will Tom and Beth be able to control their desires unlike their lovestruck teenagers?

According to the official synopsis, Adultery “raises questions about class, grief and the effects of social media, as it takes the viewer on a rollercoaster story of passion, parenthood and peril, as our protagonists Tom and Beth embark upon a passionate and intense love affair that threatens to uproot their whole lives.”

Danny Brocklehurst has shared that it’s a drama about “passion” and one he’s wanted to write for some time. “I’m thrilled to be partnering with ITV and Poison Pen to bring audiences a show about how love and sex have the capacity to lift us to the highest highs and the lowest lows,” he says.

ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill has called it an “addictive” love story, adding: ““Danny’s brilliant scripts will have an audience hooked into this adulterous story from the start.”

Who's in the cast of Adultery?

The cast of Adultery includes:

• Dominic Cooper (Preacher, The Devil's Double) as Tom Kirkman
• Romola Garai (One Life, Vigil) as Beth Brookes,
• Shelley Conn (Gen V, Bridgerton) as Tom’s wife Hannah
• Matthew McNulty (Domina, Deadwater Fell) as Beth’s husband Neil
• Johnny Sanpher as Ollie Brookes
• Leila Khan (Heartstopper, Crookhaven) as Jess Kirkman
• Andrew Knott (Gavin & Stacey, Protection) as Dave, the ex-husband of Beth’s recently deceased best friend
• James Murray (The Crown, Masters of the Air) as Paul Kirkman
• Charley Webb (The Long Shadow, Better) as Leah Kirkman

Is there a trailer for Adultery?

Yes, you can watch the trailer for Adultery below.

How can I watch Adultery?

Adultery will premiere on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Sunday 25th October and will continue on Monday 26th October at 9pm.