Our ‘need to watch that’ list may be bursting at the seams (let’s be real, I haven’t even finished the most recent season of The Bear yet), but we’ll always make room for something suspenseful, that’ll genuinely keep us hooked. It sounds like Truelove, an upcoming thriller series from Channel 4, might be just the thing. 

Produced by Clerkenwell Films, the team behind Bafta award-winning series The End Of The F***ing World, and written by Iain Weatherby (Humans) and co-created with Charlie Covell (The End Of The F***ing World), all our boxes are being ticked. Here’s what we know so far. 

The thing is, this is a drunken chat. So should the friends really act on the pact when the time comes? 

That’s the big question at the heart of the show, which plays out alongside a love story between Phil and Ken – a lovely plotline, we think, because it still feels so rare to see characters over the age of 60 being romantic. Oh, and there’s some killings and crime drama thrown into the mix. 

Further cast members include Phil Davis (Trying) as Nigel and Fiona Button (The Split) as Kate.

Caroline Hollick, Channel 4 head of drama, said: “Truelove is a unique, poignant and darkly funny series which deals with big themes around regrets at the paths not taken, quality of life and serious illness.”

Lindsay Duncan, who took over the role of Phil after Julie Walters had to pull out due to medical reasons, said: “When I read the Truelove scripts I knew I wanted to be involved. I say involved because the obvious thing is that Phil is a great part – an intelligent, tough and complex woman – but also I want to be a part of this project. It’s so well written, exploring what we face when age becomes a factor. How do we want to live, die and love with the remaining years? It tells a compelling story with humanity and very dark humour. The cast is terrific. It’s original and ambitious. Excited is an overused word in this context, but I really am.”

And Clarke Peters, who plays Ken, added: “If your friend reached a soul-destroying level of decrepitude, could you help them transition, if asked? Would it be right, would it be noble, could you do it? Which of that internal triumvirate do you listen to: your head, heart or soul? You know it is illegal in law and scripture to take a life, but could you do it? Iain and Charlie’s story explores that moral dilemma in a way I’ve never seen before. It’s funny, it’s dark and it’s full of twists and turns. And damn! To tell this story, with this cast, was something I would have dreaded missing out on…Roll on ‘action’!”

No news on an exact release date for Truelove just yet, but we know it’ll be coming to Channel 4 in early 2024.

Images: Channel 4