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Downton Abbey and Slow Horses favourites star in dramatic new look at ITV's new thriller The Party

The series also stars the likes of Luke Evans and Joanna Scanlan.

Tom Cullen in a suit.

ITV

Published: Tuesday, 11 August 2026 at 12:45 pm

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ITV has unveiled a dramatic first look at its upcoming series The Party, giving fans a glimpse at the star-studded cast that includes Slow Horses and Downton Abbey star Tom Cullen.

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The five-part series is an adaptation of Elizabeth Day's novel of the same name and promises to be "a gripping exploration of identity, privilege and devotion, combined with a tender ode to anyone who has fought to live authentically".

It follows Martin Gilmour (Luke Evans), a journalist shaped by his lifelong friendship with a wealthy politician called Ben Fitzmaurice (Cullen).

But when the Conservative leader announces his resignation and Ben considers standing, Martin worries that Ben’s bid could end up dredging up the secrets of their past with tragic consequences.

The series unfolds across two timelines, moving between the events of the party and the police investigation that follows, with flashbacks to Martin and Ben's lives at school and university.

And there certainly looks to be plenty of drama, if the first-look images are anything to go by.

One of the new images shows Martin covered in a blood-stained shirt as he's interrogated by the police (below), while another shows Ben celebrating at a party (above).

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Luke Evans in a bloodied shirt.

Lydia Leonard and Tom Cullen on stage.

Luke Evans in a bloodied shirt.

Lydia Leonard and Tom Cullen on stage.

Luke Evans in a bloodied shirt.

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ITV

ITV

Another image (above) shows Ben on stage alongside his wife, Serena (Lydia Leonard).

The drama comes to our screens courtesy of Sarah Solemani, who’s known for her work on the BBC drama Ridley Road as well as the black comedy drama Barry.

Alongside Evans and Cullen, Joanna Scanlan (Riot Women) stars as Martin's mother, Sylvia, while Lindsay Duncan (His Dark Materials) and Douglas Hodge (I Hate Suzie Too) also star as Ben’s parents, Lady Katherine and Lord George Fitzmaurice.

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The cast is rounded out by the likes of Amaka Okafor (Bodies), Bally Gill (Interview With The Vampire), Rakie Ayola (Grace), Sally Scott (Crow Girl, Black Doves), Sam Troughton (Chernobyl) and Sinéad Matthews (The Crown).

The series was announced back in November 2025, with Evans saying in a statement at the time: "From the moment I read Elizabeth Day’s novel, I knew it had the makings of something truly special for television. To now be bringing The Party to life - both as an actor and as an executive producer through Stoic Productions - is incredibly rewarding.

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"Sarah Solemani’s adaptation captures the emotional depth and tension of the story perfectly, and to collaborate once again with World Productions and ITV, alongside such an extraordinary cast, is a real privilege. The Party is a gripping exploration of loyalty, class, and the truths we hide, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it."

Solemani said: "Class, sex, shame, power, betrayal, secrets - stunned ITV are letting me air my dirty laundry for our new show The Party stewarded by the legendary World Productions."

The Party will air on ITV1 and ITVX this autumn.

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Authors

RadioTimes.com senior trends writer Molly Moss. She is sitting outside wearing a black top, holding a white teacup with a smily face on it to her mouth

Molly MossTrends Writer

Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.

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