‘The original was set in Cork, wasn’t it?’: TV adaptation of Graham Norton novel starts tonight
Denise Welch as Moira Crottie, Kevin Whately as Silent Dave, Jenny Walser as Sally Barrie, Amy Nuttall as Carol Crottie, Douglas Henshall as Robert Barrie, Lewis Cope as Kaden Barrie and Shane Zaza as Dan in Forever Home. Picture:Helen Williams/ Channel 5
Graham Norton is a man of many talents: beloved television personality, comedian, radio host and acclaimed novelist.
Now, the Irish presenter’s fourth novel, has been adapted into a six-part series, marking the second of his novels to be brought to the screen.
Originally set in a small Irish town, the story has now moved to Northumberland and follows Carol Crottie, a divorcee living with her new partner. When she discovers a long-dead body hidden in the basement of their home, she realises she is sharing her life with a killer.
The series stars actress Amy Nuttall as Carol, Douglas Henshall as her older partner, Robert Barrie, actor Lewis Cope as his son, Kaden, and actress Jenny Walser as his daughter, Sally.
The 63-year-old, best known for hosting the BBC talk show has written six novels.
His debut novel, was published in 2016 and centres on a murder in an Irish rural community. The award-winning book was later adapted into a four-part ITV crime drama in 2022.
Nuttall, 44, describes the series as a blend of genres.
“I remember there was a lot of conversation on set, with the directors and the cast, about the tone. The scripts have such a broad mix of genres. There’s comedy, it’s incredibly moving, but at the same time, it’s gripping and suspenseful,” says the Lancashire-born actress.
“I remember trying to think of other shows that we could compare it to. And I suppose the good thing is there aren’t many things out there that we can compare it to. I remember them saying it was ever so slightly like
Speaking about her character Carol, she describes her as an optimist.
“Carol is very happy with her lot. She’s very content and in love with her partner, Robert. As you’ll know, Robert was recently diagnosed with early-onset dementia, so it’s a struggle navigating through that.
“But she is ever the optimist and remains positive. She’s the emotional glue of the family and always wants to keep everyone happy. She makes herself smaller to make everyone else’s lives easier.
“But throughout the course of the series, we’re all proud of her. She changes quite dramatically. She finds strength and resilience, and I think that surprises even herself.”
Walser, 31, describes the series as comedy mixed with darkness.
“The characters are so distinct and vividly written, and I think that really helps to ground the story,” explains the London-born actress.
“I feel like we all felt that on set. It was kind of interesting because some days you’d be doing a scene and it would be out-and-out funny, and then it’s mixed with this darkness as well and this real, gutsy reality.
“I will openly say I was amused by what the final product would look like, what tone it would take, and how we would draw that line between the different styles. But from what I’ve seen, I think it kind of achieves that, and I’m really proud of it because I think it’s just going to be great for the audience to have so much of a real journey to go on.”
Speaking about her character Sally, she says: “I guess we find Sally in her early 20s. She’s started doing some social media influencing, well, she would say she’s an influencer.
“I’m not sure quite how many people, or who, she is influencing, if any. But she’s sort of, I think, slightly waywardly pouring her outward attentions into gaining love and validation from various people, whether that’s her family, her followers online, her co-workers, or her lover boy.
“She’s sort of a little bit wayward, I would say, when we find her at the beginning of the series.”
Cope, 31, who also appeared on the last season of says he loved that the series was set in the North East, being from Hartlepool himself.
“Obviously, the original was set in Cork, wasn’t it? And then the adaptation was set in Northumberland.
“But I don’t think it necessarily needs to be location-specific, because the drama is very much about family dynamics, which could be anywhere in the world.
“I think you could almost pick it up and put it anywhere, and you could take it to any sort of timeline as well. Sometimes it actually looks quite period. I remember watching episode one and thinking, because it is set in the present day, that it almost could be from any time or any place.
“And being from the North East, it was great to be back there and filming, and hopefully there’s a lot more stuff getting made in the North East, too.”
Speaking about the tone of the series Cope adds: “As you go through and watch the different episodes, every single one changes your mind about, first of all, who is the person in the freezer, and secondly, who did it. It really does keep you guessing with every episode.
“And I think you’ll really, really want to see the next one because it feels so real. It could be one of those documentaries because it feels that real, and you just want to find out what happens. It keeps you guessing right until the last five or 10 minutes of episode six, really, and even then, I think it’s a big surprise.
“So, I think it will hopefully really grip people.”
- Forever Home airs on Channel 5 tonight.
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