Sometimes, all we need is a a bit of love to escape the trials and tribulations of everyday life – and one of Britain’s most-loved romance writers has a new adaptation coming to our screens. David Nicholls, the writer behind One Day, is adapting his bestselling novel You Are Here for the TV – which is set to be the best BBC drama in years. The romantic comedy brings together The Crown’s Claire Foy and Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen as the leads of this epic upcoming series.
The story centres around the protagonists Michael (Macfadyen) and Marnie (Foy), who’re both feeling lonely and somewhat lost. Then, their mutual friend brings them together. But, instead of going for a casual drink or coffee – they set out on a very unconventional adventure in this ‘honest, witty and tender love story’.
Intrigued? With the series coming to BBC, here’s everything you need to know about You Are Here, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is You Are Here about?
Adapted from David Nicholls’ 2024 book of the same name, the eight-part series tells the story of Michael (Matthew Macfadyen) and Marnie (Claire Foy), who are both middle-aged, single and lonely. Thrown together by a mutual friend, they unexpectedly set out on an epic coast-to-coast walk across the English countryside – from the Lake District to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire. As the pair walk, they find themselves on the brink of a relationship neither of them expected.
According to the official synopsis, their mutual attraction is as ‘exhilarating as it is terrifying,’ with both characters overcoming the obstacles that come with mid-life. The series will track the budding romance as they soak up the beautiful scenery and battle some extreme weather.
‘Matthew and Claire are both just dream casting, wonderful in comedy and drama, so detailed and thoughtful and sympathetic,’ David Nicholls says. ‘The intention with the novel was to write a close-up study of a relationship, but set against this magnificent landscape, and that’s our ambition here, too; to make something both intimate and epic, funny and dramatic, a romantic comedy with real emotion. We can’t wait to bring Marnie and Michael’s journey to the screen.’
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The director Lenny Abrahamson, whose credits include the romantic mega-hit Normal People, spoke about the casting and directing. ‘As a huge admirer of David’s writing, I’m delighted to be collaborating with him to bring You Are Here to the screen. The novel is such a beautiful love story – funny, profound and ultimately deeply hopeful,’ he says. ‘I’m also extremely excited to have Claire and Matthew, two actors I hugely admire, playing Michael and Marnie.’
Who’s in the cast of You Are Here?
The cast of You Are Here (so far) includes:
- Matthew Macfadyen (Succession, Legacy of Spies, Death by Lightning) as Michael
- Claire Foy (All of Us Strangers, The Magic Faraway Tree, The Crown) as Marnie
How can I watch You Are Here?
With the series recently announced, filming is set to take place across the Lake District and around Manchester and it will air on the BBC and BBC iPlayer. We’ll update you here as soon as there’s an official release date.
What other BBC dramas can I watch now?
For an equally heartwarming series, we’d recommend Mum, which follows the matriarch Cathy (Lesley Manville) and her dysfunctional family as she grapples with losing her husband and finding herself again – it’s as hilarious as it is heartbreaking. You can watch Mum now on BBC iPlayer. If you’re into darker crime dramas, we’d suggest The Sixth Commandment, which is based on shocking real-life events where student and opportunist, Ben Field (Éanna Hardwicke), manipulated and victimised two elderly Christian members of a small Buckinghamshire community for financial gain. You can watch The Sixth Commandment now on BBC iPlayer.
