If you’d rather be on a sunny beach right now but are stuck at home, we feel your pain and have just the show that might help with your holiday blues. The Wives is the superb Channel 5 mystery thriller set in Malta, where an annual holiday turns into a murder investigation full of jaw-dropping twists. Luckily, you don’t have to wait to enjoy the Maltese sun rays (through the TV) – you can watch the show tonight.
The six-part series introduces us to Beth (Jo Joyner), who has been holidaying with her family in the same apartments every summer for over a decade. But, this year, things are very different, as her best friend Annabelle is dead. But what happened to her? And why has her widowed husband brought his new partner, and Annabelle’s doppelganger, to their special place?
Intrigued? With all six episodes available to stream on Channel 5, here’s everything you need to know about The Wives, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is The Wives about?
One family have been enjoying summer trips to their Maltese holiday apartments for the past 15 years. But this year is a long cry from the usual tanning, gossip and cocktails. The Wives, which first aired in 2024, follows (you guessed it) four wives who are all sisters-in-law: Sylvie (Tamzin Outhwaite), Natasha (Angela Griffin), Beth (Jo Joyner) and Annabelle (Christine Bottomley).
Last year, they were enjoying some of their happiest days – Natasha was filthy rich, Beth and Annabelle shared an extremely close bond and Sylvie was happily married. Flashforward to this year, and things couldn’t be more different. Sylvie is single, Natasha is financially ruined, Beth is barely keeping it together and Annabelle is… dead.
Annabelle’s widower Charlie arrives with a new woman, but something doesn’t sit right with the old friends. She looks strangely similar to Annabelle and he’s acting suspiciously, so much so Beth is certain there’s something more to Annabelle’s death. Together, the women join forces to try and work out what actually happened to their friend.
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However, it’s no easy feat. On the trail to truth, they’re met with corrupt officials, drug cartels and career criminals. And all this drama culminates in a plot twist that will leave you gobsmacked!
Who’s in the cast of Wives?
The cast for Wives includes:
- Jamie Bamber (Beyond Paradise) as Charlie Morgan
- Jo Joyner (Little Disasters, Riptide) as Beth Morgan
- Louis Boyer (The Ledge) as Luca Vella
- Angela Griffin (White Lines) as Natasha Morgan
- Katie Clarkson-Hill (Trust Me) as Jade Glover
- Catriona Chandler (Rivals) as Sky Morgan
- Tamzin Outhwaite (New Tricks) as Sylvie Morgan
- Jonathan Forbes (Catastophe) as Sean Morgan
- Ben Willbond (Ghosts) as Frankie Morgan
- Christine Bottomley (Hope Springs) as Annabelle
Is there a trailer for The Wives?
Yes - you can watch the full trailer for Wives here.
Is The Wives any good?
Yes – if you love a sun-drenched murder mystery, you’re going to love this drama. It’s light-hearted and fun but kept us gripped until the end with an almighty twist! Katie Clarkson-Hill’s performance as Jade was utterly hilarious – she bound into the group as the new partner and thinks they’re all beyond crackers (her judgement isn’t entirely incorrect).
How can I watch The Wives?
You can watch all episodes of The Wives now on Channel 5.
What other Channel 5 thrillers can I watch now?
If you want to see Jo Joyner in another irresistible thriller, you might want to check out Riptide, where she stars as Alison, a smitten newlywed in an idyllic beach home in Australia. One day, when her husband doesn’t return home from surfing, her life is torn apart at the seams and an explosive mystery unfolds. You can watch Riptide now on Channel 5. Another domestic thriller we’d recommend is Lie With Me. A wife on the brink, Anna (Charlie Brinks) moves with her family to Australia to try and mend her marriage that has been broken by her husband’s infidelity. When she hires a new nanny, Becky, a dark secret threatens to destroy the last of Anna’s sanity. You can watch Lie With Me now on Channel 5.
