Introduction
In this new chapter of the deliciously dark psychological drama, The Couple Next Door, we venture back into the claustrophobic world of the cul-de-sac and explore the fallout of taking your fantasies and making them reality. Brilliant heart surgeon, Charlotte Roberts (Annabel Scholey), and her husband, consultant anaesthetist Jacob (Sam Palladio) take centre stage, alongside their mysterious new colleague Mia (Aggy K Adams) and Charlotte’s old flame Leo (Sendhil Ramamurthy). Leo’s return sparks a change in Charlotte and Mia seizes the opportunity to work her way into Jacob and Charlotte’s confidence, their street, and eventually even their bed, befriending cul-de-sac outcast, Alan (Hugh Dennis) along the way. But it’s not long before Mia’s past comes back to haunt her, leading Charlotte and Jacob to question who she really is, especially when patients at the hospital start mysteriously dying. One thing is clear – giving in to their desires could have deadly consequences.
This series is loosely adapted from Scandi drama ‘Dopamin’ made by Kamikaze Film CPH, format sales by REinvent International Sales, and the Dutch format ‘The Neighbors’ made by Millstreet Films on which series one was based.
Cast and crew credits
Sam Palladio – Jacob
Aggy K. Adams – Mia
Sendhil Ramamurthy – Leo
Hugh Dennis – Alan
Maimie McCoy – Gemma
Adam James – Ben
Tanya Moodie – Yvonne
Jackie Clune – Annette
Barney White – Brandon
David Allison – Writer
Dries Vos – Director
Jo McGrath – Executive producer for Eagle Eye Drama
Walter Iuzzolino – Executive producer for Eagle Eye Drama
Jen Burnet – Producer
Character descriptions
CHARLOTTE (Played by Annabel Scholey). A consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Charlotte is hugely competitive and highly respected at work. Married to Jacob and happily child free, Charlotte is starting to wonder what’s next – is twenty more years doing exactly what’s expected of her really that appealing? The pressure of her career and of caring for her elderly father sometimes get on top of her but it’s not until her ex, Leo, returns and Mia crashes into her life that she starts to entertain the thought of cutting loose from it all.
JACOB (Played by Sam Palladio). Always charming, Jacob adores wife Charlotte and enjoys their verbal sparring and the fact that she is so powerful in theatre. But, buried deep, are insecurities about his status. Jacob enjoys pushing boundaries and copes with his high-octane job with the help of the odd illicit prescription drug. The focus of the adoration of half the junior staff at the hospital, Jacob has always been faithful to Charlotte. But when Mia arrives, it soon becomes clear she might be another drug he can’t quite resist.
MIA (Played by Aggy K. Adams). New in town, with a very mysterious past, surgical nurse Mia is clearly trying to run from someone or something. With a very un-British attitude to both work and sex, Mia has an uncanny ability to draw people in and make them desire her. But this can also make her a formidable enemy. When she sees Charlotte and Jacob for the first time, she’s immediately fascinated by them and determined to work her way into their seemingly perfect marriage.
LEO (Played by Sendhil Ramamurthy). Having had a whirlwind romance with Charlotte during her med school years, Leo’s life has taken a very different path in the years since. He’s travelled the world, working for charities and eschewing the trappings and easy life his family’s wealth could have provided. But now, with his father, Viraj, seriously ill, Leo has returned home. When he sees Charlotte, the old feelings come flooding back. Will he try and win back the woman he’s always loved?
ALAN (Played by Hugh Dennis). Isolated and alone since Jean left him a year ago, Alan has had to suffer the scorn of the community, as his crimes towards Becka became more widely known. Now fully recovered from his stroke, he’s been sentenced to community service, completing menial tasks around the local area to repay his debt to society. But has Alan really mended his ways? And if he has, will his past stop him ever finding love again?
GEMMA (Played by Maimie McCoy) – Senior manager at the hospital, and longtime best friend to Charlotte. Gemma’s still struggling to process the end of her marriage to Ben, who left her for a much younger woman. But once she meets the charming, suave Leo, life starts looking up. But with Leo still harbouring feelings for Charlotte, can they ever be more than just good friends?
BEN (Played by Adam James). Medical director of the hospital, Ben is Jacob’s boss, friend and mentor. In the grip of a mid-life crisis, he has left his wife for Alyssa, the twenty-something receptionist at his local gym. She’s beautiful and makes him feel young again but do they really have anything in common? And, as he watches his ex-wife getting closer to Leo, will he start to feel the pangs of regret?
YVONNE (Played by Tanya Moodie) – Mia’s closest ally amongst the nursing staff, Yvonne avoids being drawn into the gossip and drama of the hospital. She’s kind and caring but unlucky in love. Mia thinks she might know the perfect man for her friend – Alan. But can Yvonne overlook Alan’s past? And, if so, will he be able to prove he’s a changed man?
Episodes
EPISODE 1
When new surgical nurse Mia arrives at the hospital, she quickly turns her charm on married colleagues, Charlotte and Jacob. But they can’t help but feel unsettled when she unexpectedly moves into the house next door. However, it’s not long before Mia’s living rent free in both their heads, leading them to behave in uncharacteristic ways during a night out. Meanwhile, Charlotte reconnects with an old flame, Leo, and can’t help but wonder what life might have been like if she’d made a different choice. Elsewhere, Alan faces losing his last friend on the cul-de-sac but finds a surprising new ally in the form of the newly arrived Mia.
EPISODE 2
Charlotte tries to distance herself from Mia after their night out. At work, a patient is sexist towards Mia and Jacob has to step in. Everyone is disturbed by Mia’s cold response when the patient later dies. At the hospital’s fundraising ball, Leo and Jacob’s mutual dislike is palpable and Mia encourages Charlotte to throw aside the expectations her role puts upon her and reconnect with Jacob sexually. But it soon becomes clear that Mia has an agenda of her own and is manipulating the couple to ensure she gets exactly what she wants. Elsewhere, Mia is disgusted when Alan confesses his stalking past.
EPISODE 3
A guilt-ridden Jacob plans a surprise weekend trip to Antwerp for Charlotte, to celebrate their twenty-year anniversary. The trip threatens to expose the cracks in their marriage but, when an unexpected third person turns up, things take an erotic but dangerous turn. Meanwhile, hospital management are troubled by Mr Green’s post-mortem results and Leo realises Hari is lying about his plans for the foundation. Elsewhere, Alan’s forced to put his telescope back into action after Mia asks him to keep an eye on her house.
EPISODE 4
Reeling from events in Antwerp, Charlotte throws herself into her work whilst Jacob questions what happens next. Gossip about the trip spreads through the hospital leading to tension between Brandon and Jacob. Ben puts Jacob in charge of the investigation into Mr Green’s death and he looks to Norway for answers. Elsewhere, Charlotte opens up to Leo about her marriage and Mia tries to do a good deed for Alan.
EPISODE 5
Jacob comes to the heartbreaking realisation that Charlotte has feelings for someone else. And his investigation into Mr Green’s death comes to a head after another suspicious death rocks the hospital. Mia’s past finally catches up with her and the tumultuous events of the day leave Charlotte feeling betrayed. Meanwhile, Leo and Gemma find solace in one another, and Ben starts to regret his life choices. Elsewhere, a misunderstanding comes between Yvonne and Alan.
EPISODE 6
Charlotte and Jacob’s marriage is imploding and the fallout looks set to have deadly consequences. Alan realises Mia’s in danger but the police won’t take him seriously, forcing him to take drastic action. Meanwhile, Gemma and Leo find themselves in a race against time to try and uncover who was really behind the hospital deaths. And when Viraj’s last wishes are revealed, a final showdown between Hari and Leo seems inevitable.
