ITV Launches The Party With Luke Evans and Tom Cullen

ITV is bringing Elizabeth Day's novel The Party to television with a five-part thriller featuring Luke Evans, Tom Cullen and an ensemble of established British actors. The drama premieres Sunday, October 11, at 9 p.m. on ITV1, combining political ambition, class divisions and a police investigation surrounding a birthday celebration at an aristocratic family's country estate.

According to the series details published by Cosmopolitan, the production also features Sarah Solemani, Lydia Leonard, Joanna Scanlan, Lindsay Duncan and Douglas Hodge. The cast brings together performers known for television dramas, period productions and major film franchises.

Evans portrays Martin Gilmour, a journalist raised by his working-class mother, Sylvia, played by Scanlan. Martin earns a scholarship to an elite boarding school, where he meets Ben Fitzmaurice, beginning a friendship that continues for three decades.

Evans previously played Gaston in Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast and Bard in The Hobbit trilogy. His other screen credits include Nine Perfect Strangers, The Pembrokeshire Murders and the Fast & Furious franchise.

Cullen plays Ben, a wealthy politician whose ambitions become central to the story. With the Conservative Party leader resigning, Ben considers pursuing the leadership, raising concerns for Martin about the potential exposure of secrets connected to their shared history.

Cullen's previous television appearances include House of the Dragon, in which he played Ser Luthor Largent. His other credits include The Gold, Downton Abbey, Knightfall and Black Mirror.

Solemani plays Lucy Gilmour, Martin's pregnant wife, and adapted Day's novel for the television production. Her acting credits include Bad Education, in which she played Rosie Gulliver, as well as Bridget Jones's Baby, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Chivalry and Him & Her.

Leonard portrays Serena Fitzmaurice, Ben's wife. Audiences may recognize her from Gentleman Jack, where she played Mariana Lawton, and The Crown, in which she portrayed Cherie Blair. Her other credits include Wolf Hall, Ten Percent and The Fifth Commandment.

Scanlan plays Sylvia Gilmour, who raised Martin alone before his scholarship brought him into Ben's privileged social circle. Scanlan won the BAFTA for Leading Actress for After Love and has appeared in The Thick of It, Getting On, Bridget Jones's Baby and Wicked Little Letters. Her more recent television credits include Riot Women and Slow Horses.

Duncan plays Lady Katherine Fitzmaurice, Ben's mother, while Hodge portrays his father, Lord George Fitzmaurice. Duncan's credits include The Morning Show, A Discovery of Witches, Sherwood, Sherlock and the Doctor Who special The Waters of Mars. Hodge has appeared in The Night Manager, The Great, I Hate Suzie Too, Black Mirror and the films We Live in Time and Pillion.

The supporting cast includes Bally Gill, known for Slow Horses and Interview with the Vampire; Amaka Okafor, who appeared in Black Rabbit; Rakie Ayola, known for The Pact; and Sally Scott, who appeared in Black Doves. Sam Troughton, known for Chernobyl, and Sinéad Matthews, whose credits include Down Cemetery Road, also feature.

The narrative moves between Ben's birthday party, the subsequent police investigation and flashbacks to the characters' school years, university experiences and time in London's party scene. The story examines how Martin's longstanding loyalty to Ben and his family intersects with political ambition and unresolved events from their past.

ITV's broadcast schedule calls for three consecutive nights of episodes, beginning Sunday, October 11, and continuing Monday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The remaining installments will complete the five-part miniseries run.