“A Harlan Coben replacement”: The Night They Vanished is the “twisty” new crime thriller coming to Channel 4

If you’ve worked your way through Harlan Coben’s entire back catalogue, and are in the market for a twisty new crime thriller – we bring you good news. Channel 4 has announced The Night They Vanished, a new series that we reckon will give the king of plot twists a run for his money.

The story starts with a blind date between Anna (Gabrielle Creevy) and Cai (Callum Scott Howells) in Cardiff, but it’s not exactly the kind of first encounter you’d dream about. Anna has a startling realisation when she comes across an unnerving post on Cai’s website. She’s quickly thrown into a middle of a terrifying conspiracy, leading her back to her childhood village in South Wales.

Ahead of The Night They Vanished landing on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about this new thriller, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.

What is The Night They Vanished about?

The upcoming six-part romantic thriller, based on Vanessa Savage’s novel of the same name, takes us to a remote coastal village in South Wales. The story revolves around Anna (Gabrielle Creevy) a fiery and funny woman who’s built a life in Cardiff away from her hometown. But her whole life threatens to become upended when she spots her childhood home on a true crime website – listed as the scene of her family’s future deaths. When she goes to contact her loved ones, they’ve vanished without a trace.

A man she’s just met on a blind date, Cai (Callum Scott Howells) runs the site – but he swears he didn’t post it. The clock is ticking for Anna to track down her missing family, while the police are reluctant to help. She returns to the windswept coastline where she grew up to try and find them, and her past resurfaces in a terrifying way.

Creevy shared her excitement for taking on the lead role: ‘Anna is a firecracker – sharp, loyal and carrying more hurt than she lets on,’ she told Channel 4. ‘The moment her past comes roaring back, she’s forced into a nightmare she thought she’d escaped. It’s a gift of a role and I can’t wait for audiences to unravel the truth with her.’

Scott Howells revealed the contradictory nature of his character: ‘Cai is charming, complicated and never quite what he seems,’ he told Channel 4. ‘He could be the love of Anna’s life… or the centre of a terrifying conspiracy. Playing someone who keeps you guessing is exactly the kind of challenge I love.’

Who’s in the cast of The Night They Vanished?

The cast of The Night They Vanished includes:

• Gabrielle Creevy (Amadeus, The Guest, Black Doves) as Anna
• Callum Scott Howell (It’s A Sin, Deadpoint, The Beautiful Game) as Cai
• Tamzin Outhwaite (as pictured above in The Wives, Ridley Road, The Tower) as Jo, Anna’s stepmother
• Steffan Rhodri (Gavin & Stacey, Death Valley, Mr Burton, Men Up) as Idris, Anna’s father
• Matthew Gravelle (Mudtown, Broadchurch, Keeping Faith)
• Lisa Victoria (Pobol y Cwm)
• Jack Quick (Pobol y Cwm, Tree On A Hill, Gwaith/Cartref)
• Andrew Lennon (Death Valley, Mammoth, Foxhollow)
• Callum Hymers (The Pact, Just Jim)
• Bella Shewan

How can I watch The Night They Vanished?

While Channel 4 hasn’t yet shared a release date for The Night They Vanished, filming is currently underway in Wales. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll share it here.

What other crime dramas can I watch now?

If you want a twisty thriller to watch now, we’d recommend White Lies. The South African drama takes us to a wealthy Cape Town suburb where journalist Edie (Natalie Dormer) is drawn into a deeply personal story – the murder of her estranged brother. She soon uncovers his dark and seedy past, but she’s not entirely innocent herself. White Lies is available to watch now on Channel 4. For a cosier crime drama, try My Life Is Murder. The series takes us into the world of Alexa Crowe (Lucy Lawless), a fearless investigator for whom there’s no case too tricky (quite literally). And when she’s not solving crime? She’s baking bread, which helps her keep her cool. You can watch My Life Is Murder on Acorn TV via Prime Video.