First Look at ITV's The Party

ITV has given viewers their first proper look at its upcoming drama The Party.

The five-part thriller boasts an impressive cast led by Luke Evans and Tom Cullen, and from the first-look pictures alone, it looks as though ITV is preparing something considerably darker than its title might suggest.

Credit: ITV's The Party.

Based on Elizabeth Day’s bestselling novel of the same name, The Party centres on a seemingly unbreakable friendship, a wealthy political family and a birthday celebration that ends in tragedy.

Luke Evans' character, journalist Martin Gilmour, is pictured with a blood-stained shirt while being questioned by police. Another image shows Tom Cullen as Ben Fitzmaurice celebrating alongside his wife Serena, played by Lydia Leonard, at the lavish party at the heart of the story.

What is The Party about?

The Party follows Martin Gilmour, a journalist whose life has been profoundly shaped by his friendship with Ben Fitzmaurice. The two first meet while attending an elite boarding school, despite coming from very different backgrounds.

Credit: ITV's The Party.

Martin is raised by his working-class mother Sylvia, played by Joanna Scanlan, and earns a scholarship to the prestigious school. Ben, meanwhile, is the privileged son of Lord George and Lady Katherine Fitzmaurice. For Martin, becoming part of Ben's world gives him something he has always wanted - a sense of belonging.

Credit: ITV's The Party.

The friendship follows the pair into adulthood, with Martin remaining fiercely loyal to Ben despite the increasingly complicated nature of their relationship. Years later, Ben has become a successful Conservative politician. When the Conservative leader announces their resignation, Ben begins considering a bid for the leadership. For Martin, however, his friend's political ambitions aren't simply a cause for celebration. They could bring some very uncomfortable secrets into the spotlight.

A party that ends in tragedy

The drama takes place across two timelines, moving between the events of the infamous party and the police investigation that follows. Viewers will also be taken back into Martin and Ben's past, with flashbacks exploring their school and university years and showing how their complicated friendship developed.

And the first-look images appear to be deliberately teasing. Martin's bloodied appearance during his police interrogation is perhaps the biggest clue yet that he could find himself at the centre of the investigation.

Credit: ITV's The Party.

Exactly whose blood is on his shirt, and what happened during the party, remains firmly under wraps. That is likely to be one of the major questions hanging over the series.

The Cast

Evans leads the cast as Martin, while Cullen plays Ben. Cullen will be particularly recognisable to viewers from Downton Abbey and Slow Horses, while Evans has built an extensive television and film career, including roles in The Pembrokeshire Murders and Nine Perfect Strangers.

Lydia Leonard plays Ben's wife Serena, with Joanna Scanlan taking on the role of Martin's mother Sylvia. The wider cast includes Amaka Okafor, Bally Gill, Rakie Ayola, Sally Scott, Sam Troughton and Sinéad Matthews.

Behind the scenes

The series is produced by World Productions, with Sarah Solemani adapting Elizabeth Day's novel for television. Solemani is also known for her work on Ridley Road and Barry.

Luke Evans is taking on more than just the lead role, too, serving as an executive producer through his production company Stoic Productions. When the series was first announced, Evans revealed that he had immediately seen the potential in Day's novel.

Credit: ITV's The Party.

He said the book had "the makings of something truly special for television", adding that the adaptation explores loyalty, class and the truths people hide.

More than another murder mystery

Although The Party clearly has a major mystery at its centre, the drama isn't simply about working out what happened on one disastrous night. At its heart is Martin and Ben's relationship.

Their friendship has survived for decades, but it is also shaped by class, privilege, power and Martin's complicated relationship with the world Ben represents.

When will it air?

The Party will air on ITV1 and ITVX this autumn. The series has been confirmed as a five-part drama, although ITV has yet to announce an exact premiere date.

With its combination of political intrigue, family secrets, class tensions and a friendship that appears to be heading towards catastrophe, The Party is shaping up to be one of ITV's more intriguing dramas of the year.