Psychological dramas are the most thrilling when they’re based on true events, and here’s one that will have you glued to your screen! Hunting Alice Bell is a Channel 4 series about a suspected national villain who’s given a new identity – but, as accusations start to fly around, who is she really? The British drama, which stars Sherlock’s Amanda Abbington, Lazarus’ Alexandra Roach and Death In Paradise’s Ralf Little, has been inspired by devastating true stories – making it all the more gripping.
Here’s the gist of the series – written by David Baddiel and Peter Bradshaw. Alice Bell is a former nurse and accomplice of a notorious serial killer anaesthetist, and she’s now living in Britain under a new identity. One day, Fran Da Silva (played by Alexandra Roach) receives online accusations of being Alice – and other women, strangely, report receiving the very same allegations as Fran. This group now has to prove their innocence – but who is the real Alice Bell, and is she actually, secretly, among them?
As we wait for Hunting Alice Bell to arrive on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the series, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.
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What is Hunting Alice Bell about?
The six-part series is fictional, but it’s based on real accounts of women being suspected of being national hate figures after getting new identities. Alice Bell is a former nurse and the lover (and accomplice) to a notorious serial killer anaesthetist. She’s now living in Britain under a new identity and one day, Fran Da Silva (Alexandra Roach) finds herself accused online of being Alice – and subsequently her family life falls apart. Fran discovers that other women have faced the same accusations and the group band together, firmly trying to prove their innocence. But – is one of them lying and is the real Alice Bell actually hiding in plain sight?
Co-creator and writer David Baddiel said the idea was inspired by real cases of women in the UK, who were ‘terrorised by the local population after suspicions start of them being various national hate figures, secretly living in the community.’ He continued: ‘Over time, it developed into a six-part drama, and more focused on the way that this kind of destructive rumour-mongering, which can incite riots and mob rage, is now intensified by social media.
He added: ‘Technology has created a whole new spin on the idea of mistaken identity. We’re told that in the present culture anyone can be who they want to be. But that also means that anyone can have who they are taken away from them: the hive mind can decide who you are. This happens to the five women in Hunting Alice Bell: in a world where identity is very fluid, they have lost control of theirs.’
Rachel Gesua, senior executive producer at Clapperboard Studios, described it as a ‘story for our times,’ adding that it explores ‘what happens when the online mob come for a group of ordinary women and the devastating effect that can have. David, Peter and the writing team have created a bold and provocative drama, brimming with unforgettable characters and brought to life by the most extraordinary cast. We’re thrilled to be working with the team at Channel 4 and Sphere Abacus on such a compelling drama.’
Who’s in the cast of Hunting Alice Bell?
The cast of Hunting Alice Bell includes:
- Alex Roach (Nightsleeper) as Fran
- Amanda Abbington (Sherlock) as Julie
- Emily Barber (MobLand) as Vanessa
- Toni O’Rourke (God’s Creatures) as Ros
- Christina Bennington (Halo) as Charlotte
- Rudi Dharmalingam (The Lazarus Project) as Nick
- Ralf Little (Death in Paradise) as Graham Hunter
- Simon Pegg (Mission Impossible) as Dr Jason Nash
How can I watch Hunting Alice Bell?
Channel 4 hasn’t shared a release date for Hunting Alice Bell just yet, but we’ll share it here as soon as they do. In the meantime, browse our autumn TV watchlist for the best dramas to cosy up with this season.
What other psychological dramas can I watch now?
If you’re hungry for some more gripping drama, we’d recommend Channel 5’s Insomnia starring Vicky McClure. The Line of Duty star plays a successful lawyer whose night terror comes true – or does it? You can watch the six-part series now on 5. Alternatively, Playing Nice is a drama that’ll make you squirm – it stars James Norton as a father who experiences every parents’ worst nightmare when he finds out his biological son was switched at birth. You can watch all 4 episodes on ITVX.
