Trespasses (TV series)
| Trespasses | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | Trespasses by Louise Kennedy |
| Screenplay by | Ailbhe Keogan |
| Directed by | Dawn Shadforth |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Maria Mulhall |
| Production company | Wildgaze Films |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 9 November – 12 November 2025 |
Trespasses is a Northern Irish drama television series made for Channel 4 and starring Lola Petticrew, Tom Cullen and Gillian Anderson. It is based on the novel of the same name by Louise Kennedy and set in the 1970s in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.
Premise
Cushla Lavery, a catholic schoolteacher and part-time barmaid in her brother Eamonn's pub, begins an affair with a womanising, older, married, protestant barrister, Michael Agnew, in 1970s Belfast.[1] She lives with her mother Gina, a widow and alcoholic. She has a platonic relationship with her teacher colleague Gerry Harkin.
One of Cushla's pupils is the son of a protestant mother and a catholic father, who is badly beaten for marrying outside his religion.
Agnew defends catholic youths who are accused of terrorism-related crimes.
Cast
- Lola Petticrew as Cushla Lavery
- Tom Cullen as Michael Agnew
- Gillian Anderson as Gina Lavery
- Martin McCann as Eamonn Lavery
- Emily Taaffe as Betty McGeown
- Oisín Thompson as Gerry Harkin
- Barry Ward as Victor McIntyre
- Gerard McCarthy as Jim Scott
- Conlaoch Gough-Cunningham as Tommy McGeown
- Daithi Ó Haragain as Davy McGeown
- Lorcan Cranitch as Police Sergeant Reid
- Theo Hyland as sean
Production
The series was commissioned by Channel 4 in August 2024. It is produced by Wildgaze Films and adapted by Ailbhe Keogan from the Louise Kennedy 2022 novel Trespasses.[2] The series is produced by Maria Mulhall, and directed by Dawn Shadforth who is also an executive producer. Amanda Posey is an executive producer for Wildgaze Films, as is Finnola Dwyer, Kennedy, and Gillian Anderson, who also has a starring role.[3]
As well as Anderson, the cast includes Tom Cullen, Martin McCann, Gerard McCarthy and Lola Petticrew.[4][5]
Filming took place in Finaghy, Ballymena and Holywood, County Down in November 2024.[6][7]
Broadcast
The series began broadcasting on Channel 4 on 9 November 2025.[8]
Reception
Trespasses was well-received by critics. In The Independent, Nick Hilton praised Lola Petticrew's performance as "captivating".[9] In The Guardian, Jack Seale described Petticrew as making "the tension between Cushla’s energy and cold reality at first rousing, then heartbreaking".[10] Another writer in The Guardian, Rhik Samadder, described the series as "a handsome drama, full of painful beauty", and highlighted Gillian Anderson's portrayal of Cushla's mother, Gina, as inhabiting the role.[11] Michael Hogan in the Evening Standard described Anderson's characterisation as "heartbreaking" and drew attention to Petticrew's "luminous talent".[12]
References
- ^ Robinson, Abby (9 November 2025). "Trespasses cast: Who stars in Channel 4 Troubles drama?". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (1 August 2024). "Gillian Anderson Leading Channel 4 Adaptation Of Louise Kennedy's 'Trespasses'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Channel 4 commissions major new drama adaptation Trespasses, starring Lola Petticrew, Tom Cullen and Gillian Anderson". Northern Ireland Screen. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ Warner, Sam (1 August 2024). "Bloodlands star joins Gillian Anderson for new Belfast-set drama". Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Gillian Anderson in Co Down to shoot Troubles thriller based on Louise Kennedy novel". Independent.ie. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ O'Dornan, David (25 November 2024). "Gillian Anderson back in town to shoot Troubles thriller based on book she loved". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Major new TV drama adaption Trespasses filming in Ballymena". loveballymena. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Channel 4 Q3 highlights, new and returning titles revealed". TVZoneUK. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ Hilton, Nick (9 November 2025). "Trespasses review – Lola Petticrew's captivating performance elevates this tale of forbidden love during the Troubles". The Independent. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ Seale, Jack (9 November 2025). "Trespasses review – an intoxicating, rousing and heartbreaking love story". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ Samadder, Rhik (8 November 2025). "Trespasses: Gillian Anderson steals every scene in this miraculous TV heartbreaker". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ Hogan, Michael (7 November 2025). "Trespasses on Channel 4 review: Gillian Anderson at her most heartbreaking". Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 December 2025.