"A new TV obsession": The Party is ITV’s “perfectly cast” new thriller with a "literary" twist

If there's one guest list you should be on right now, it's the one for ITV's perfectly cast new thriller The Party. Starring the likes of Luke Evans and Joanna Scanlan, the drama follows the reunion of two former elite boarding school students at a lavish party in a country manor that ends in tragedy - and it's shaping up to become the next “eat the rich” TV obsession in the vein of The White Lotus and Nine Perfect Strangers.

Though The Party doesn’t star that particular genre’s reigning queen, Nicole Kidman, there may well be another familiar face on the show. The series, which has something of a literary twist, is based on former Good Housekeeping cover star Elizabeth Day's novel of the same name and she's teased the idea of making an appearance herself. “I’ve asked to be an extra. Multiple times," she's said.

With The Party due to arrive on our screens this autumn, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming thriller, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

What is The Party about?

The five-part drama introduces us to Martin Gilmour, (Luke Evans), a working-class lad raised by single mum Sylvia (Joanna Scanlan). When he wins a scholarship to an elite boarding school, he enters a whole new world of power, money and class. It’s there that he befriends the wealthy and charismatic Ben Fitzmaurice, played by Tom Cullen, who's destined to become a politician.

Three decades later, Martin, now a journalist, is invited to Ben’s opulent birthday party in a sprawling manor in the countryside. But Ben wants to celebrate more than just his birthday as he considers announcing his intention to stand as the new Conservative leader after a last-minute recognition. Martin, however, isn't on board with Ben’s plans over fears the publicity could expose meticulously buried, dark secrets.

Ove the course of five episodes, the drama moves between the shocking events of the party and the police investigation that follows, with flashbacks to Martin and Ben’s lives at school, university and London party days. And, according to ITV, "What unfolds is a gripping exploration of identity, privilege and devotion, combined with a tender ode to anyone who has fought to live authentically."

Luke Evans says of the series: “To now be bringing The Party to life - both as an actor and as an executive producer through Stoic Productions - is incredibly rewarding. Sarah Solemani’s adaptation captures the emotional depth and tension of the story perfectly, and to collaborate once again with World Productions and ITV, alongside such an extraordinary cast, is a real privilege. The Party is a gripping exploration of loyalty, class, and the truths we hide, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it.”

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Day shared her delight over the “wonderful” TV adaptation, saying: “I am so thrilled to see this wonderful adaptation of my novel, The Party, come to our screens. To be surrounded by this much talent both in front of and behind the camera is a real career highlight - I am incredibly grateful to the brilliant Luke Evans for championing my book in the first place and to everyone at World Productions and ITV who have been so steadfast in their vision for this project.

"I'm also very grateful to Sarah Solemani for lending her myriad talents to the adaptation. It's unbelievably exciting to witness my characters and the imagined world they inhabit evolving into this compelling, new creative iteration. And yes, I've already asked to be an extra. Multiple times."

Who’s in the cast of The Party?

The cast of The Party includes:

• Luke Evans (Nine Perfect Strangers) as Martin Gilmour
• Tom Cullen (House of the Dragon) as Ben Fitzmaurice
• Joanna Scanlan (Riot Women) as Sylvia
• Lydia Leonard (Gentleman Jack, Wolf Hall) as Serena
• Lindsay Duncan (The Morning Show, His Dark Materials) as Lady Katherine Fitzmaurice
• Douglas Hodge (The Night Manager) as Lord George Fitzmaurice
• Amaka Okafor (Bodies)
• Bally Gill (Slow Horses)
• Rakie Ayola (Falling)
• Sally Scott (Crow Girl, Black Doves)
• Sam Troughton (Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, Chernobyl)
• Sinéad Matthews (Down Cemetery Road, The Crown)

Is Elizabeth Day’s book, The Party, any good?

Yes, it's a real page-turner. The book scored 3.61 out of five out of over 23,000 reviews on Goodreads, which is a very impressive score indeed as the website is renowned for harsh and critical ratings. Elsewhere, The Guardian described The Party as “dark and compelling”, while The New York Times said it was an “enticing mix of social climbing, barely hidden lust and possible crimes.”

How can I watch The Party?

The Party will air on ITV1 and ITVX this autumn. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we'll update you here.

What other thrillers can I watch right now?

If you haven't yet seen Insomnia, we'd highly recommend catching up. Vicky McClure plays a career-driven woman who loses her grasp of reality on her 40^th birthday when she starts struggling to sleep – just as her mother did before suffering a violent psychotic breakdown. Insomnia is available to watch now on Paramount+. For an equally twisty story, we'd suggest Little Disasters, which stars Diane Kruger as a mother pushed to the brink when she’s accused of harming her child. But did she do it or not? Little Disasters is also available to watch on Paramount+.