ITV Sets Five Episode Schedule for The Party Thriller

ITV is releasing its five-part thriller The Party across two weeks in October 2026, with new episodes scheduled for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday broadcasts. Based on Elizabeth Day's 2017 novel, the drama follows political journalist Martin Gilmour and the events surrounding his old friend Ben's 40th birthday party, with the full series also available on ITVX.

According to Cosmopolitan, the second episode is scheduled to air on ITV1 on Monday, October 12, at 9 p.m., followed by the third episode on Tuesday, October 13. The final two installments are scheduled for Sunday, October 18, and Monday, October 19, extending the broadcast run across two consecutive weeks.

The series contains five episodes, fewer than the six or eight installments common in many ITV drama series. The broadcaster's schedule places the premiere on Sunday, October 11, at 9 p.m., establishing a pattern of consecutive evening broadcasts before the final weekend and Monday installments.

The complete broadcast schedule reported by Cosmopolitan lists episode one for Sunday, October 11, at 9 p.m.; episode two for Monday, October 12, at 9 p.m.; and episode three for Tuesday, October 13, at 9 p.m. Episode four follows on Sunday, October 18, at 9 p.m., while the fifth and final episode is scheduled for Monday, October 19, at 9 p.m.

Viewers who prefer streaming rather than waiting for individual television broadcasts can watch all five episodes on ITVX, according to Cosmopolitan. The streaming availability allows audiences to view the complete story ahead of the remaining scheduled ITV1 transmissions.

Luke Evans stars as Martin Gilmour, a political journalist who attends Ben's birthday celebration with his pregnant wife, Lucy, played by Sara Solemani. Tom Cullen plays Ben, Martin's longtime friend, whose relationship with the journalist forms a central part of the drama.

The opening episode moves between the birthday party, a police station and scenes from Martin and Ben's school years. The story establishes that Martin has been arrested in connection with an incident at the party, while the circumstances surrounding the arrest remain unresolved in the first installment.

Adapted from Day's 2017 novel of the same name, the thriller explores status, privilege and consequences through the characters' complicated history. The remaining ITV1 broadcasts are scheduled to conclude with episode five on Monday, October 19, at 9 p.m.