If you’ve already solved every grisly city-based murder case and fancy something a little different, we’ve got a new series you’re going to want to tune into. Mayday is Lesley Manville’s unmissable crime drama that takes us to the mystical setting of the Sussex Downs for a traditional folklore festival. But when the the teenage May Queen vanishes in plain sight, the whole town becomes a suspect – and what unfolds is more watchable than Sherwood.
Hattie Sutton is the 14-year-old chosen May Queen of the town’s parade, wearing a white robe and flower crown – but when she disappears, it sends shockwaves through the town. Lesley’s character, Gail, is the disgruntled wife of a developer who’s managed to aggravate all of his neighbours, and she’s just one name on the long list of suspects. Combining all the magic and mystical elements of the English woodland with a gripping murder mystery, this is one series you’re not going to want to pause.
With the series available to watch now on Prime Video, here’s everything you need to know about Mayday, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Mayday about?
The five-part series, which first aired on the BBC in 2013, transports us to a picturesque Sussex town, an enchanting place surrounded by woodland and steeped in pagan traditions. The drama kicks off with the disappearance of the May Queen, 14-year-old Hattie (Leila Mimmack), which triggers complete panic as the town descends into a frantic search party - long-buried secrets are uncovered and neighbours suspect each other.
To give you a quick rundown of the key contenders: firstly, there’s Everett Newcombe (Aiden Gillen), father to Linus (Max Fowler). Everett is a semi-recluse and neglectful dad mourning his ex-wife, while Linus is completely infatuated with Hattie’s twin sister, Caitlin – but there’s a darker side to him.
Malcom (Peter Firth) is a real-estate developer who’s annoyed the entire town by trying to build a new housing development. Unhappily married to him is Gail Spicer (Lesley Manville), an aloof member of the community who was initially swept off her feet by Malcom when she worked as a model. Next, there’s Steve (Sam Spruell), a natural vigilante who’s trying to draw suspicions away from this brother Seth (Tom Fisher), an outsider who dwells in the woods.
And then there’s Fiona (Sophie Okonedo), an ex-policewoman turned housewife who’s married to Alan (Peter McDonald), a serving police officer. As the hunt progresses, it soon becomes clear that the seemingly strait-laced Hattie had many secrets that are set to be revealed, Meanwhile, her rebellious twin sister, Caitlin (also played by Leila), is receiving messages trying to tell her something – but is it twin intuition or coincidence?
Lesley Manville opened up about playing Gail, a misfit in the community, and her reaction to the disappearance. ‘I don’t think she has any sort of real genuine concern, but she feigns a concern for it,’ she told the BBC. ‘When her husband is implicated, obviously she starts to get worried simply because of the effects that would have on her life and how humiliating it would be for her.’
Who’s in the cast of Mayday?
The cast of Mayday includes:
- Sophie Okonedo (Slow Horses) as Fiona
- Aidan Gillen (Kin, Peaky Blinders) as Everett Newcombe
- Peter Firth (Spooks) as Malcom
- Lesley Manville (Harlots, Disclaimer, World On Fire) as Gail Spicer
- Leila Mimmack (Murder In Provence, Home Fires) as Hattie/Caitlin Sutton
- Peter McDonald (Gone, This Town) as Alan
- Sam Spruell (The Gold) as Steve
- Max Fowler (The Killing) as Linus
- Tom Fisher (The Marlow Murder Club) as Seth
Is Mayday any good?
Yes – as much as we love a gritty urban crime drama, the woodland setting, with its pagan elements, adds an extra mystical dimension. The undertones of old English traditions make this series all the more atmospheric, engaging – and eerie.
Is there a trailer for Mayday?
Yes – you can watch the trailer for Mayday below.
How can I watch Mayday?
You can watch Mayday now on Prime Video.
What other Lesley Manville dramas can I watch now?
If you’re after a period drama that’s equally compelling, we’d recommend Harlots, in which Lesley stars as a merciless brothel owner, Lydia Quigley, in Georgian London. She comes up against her longstanding rival, Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton), when she opens up shop on her upmarket Soho turf. You can watch Harlots now on U. Another period drama we’d recommend is World On Fire, which tells the stories of several characters across Europe, including Lesley’s Robina Chase, as the outbreak of the Second World War upends their lives. You can watch all episodes of World On Fire now on Prime Video.
