Shetland meets Happy Valley: Wild is Channel 5’s “unmissable” new drama with an “unsettling” premise

Imagine you set off for your yearly getaway with friends, all smiles and excitement, only for it to go horribly wrong. That's the situation three longtime friends find themselves in in Channel 5's unmissable new drama, Wild. In what's something of a Shetland and Happy Valley mash-up, the series takes us to the unforgiving Scottish Highlands where Lou (Line of Duty's Daniel Mays), Alistair (Joel Fry) and Dev (Happy Valley's Amit Shah) find themselves lost, hungry and angry.

What begins as a fun, banter-filled camping trip quickly descends into chaos as the threesome lose their way and, seemingly, all means of getting out of there in one piece. The question is, will their friendship survive and, more importantly, will they? Exploring themes of toxic masculinity and men’s mental health, it's a series that's set to be as gripping as it is deeply thought-provoking.

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

What is Wild about?

As we mentioned, the survival dramedy introduces us to three old friends, Lou (Daniel Mays), Dev (Amit Shah) and Alistair (Joel Fry), who head on their annual camping trip in the stunning Scottish Highlands. Their yearly tradition starts off as usual, filled with banter, nostalgic stories and amateur vlogging, but it all starts to unravel when they got lost in the Scottish Highlands.

Their getaway transforms into a battle of egos as long-held secrets are exposed, food rations run low and tensions run high. According to Channel 5's official synopsis: "At once funny, poignant, and unsettling, Wild explores the line between adventure and recklessness, and how toxic masculinity has become a huge part of the epidemic decline in men’s mental health."

The standalone film is part of Channel 5's popular Play for Today strand, which has featured recent releases Big Winners and Never Too Late. Commissioning editor for 5, Paul Testar, says of the strand: “The response to the first Play for Today films last year was hugely encouraging, and this new line-up builds brilliantly on that success. We’ve brought together an incredible cast - from some of the UK’s most respected screen talent to exciting new voices, reflecting both the ambition and the diversity of the strand. I couldn’t be more excited to see these stories brought to life.”

Who is in the cast of Wild?

The cast of Wild includes:

• Daniel Mays (Line of Duty, White Lines) as Lou
• Joel Fry (Game of Thrones, Our Flag Means Death) as Alistair
• Amit Shah (Happy Valley, Mr Bates vs the Post Office) as Dev

Where other dramas has Daniel Mays been in?

You may well remember Daniel Mays from his role as Sergeant Danny Waldron in the third series of Line of Duty. He also played Marcus Ward in mystery thriller White Lines and Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay in the ITV series Des. His most recent role was in Believe Me, a harrowing real-life drama that spotlights the case of serial taxi rapist John Worboys.

How can I watch Wild?

While Channel 5 hasn't yet shared a release date for Wild, we do know that it will air at some point this autumn. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we'll share it here.

What other Channel 5 dramas can I watch now?

If you like the idea of a creepy stalker drama, we'd recommend Number One Fan. The four-part series stars Jill Halfpenny as TV star Lucy, who's saved from an attack by Donna (Sally Lindsay) and while, at first, Lucy is appreciative, things soon take an eerie turn. If period dramas are more your thing, we'd suggest The Hardacres, which follows the titular working class Hardacre family's rise from poverty to staggering wealth. You can watch both dramas on Channel 5 now.