After somewhat of a lacklustre year when it comes to drama, BBC One are pulling out all the stops this autumn, starting with Doctor Foster, starring Suranne Jones.
The five-part drama, written by Mike Bartlett (The Town), follows the life of Doctor Jenny Foster, played by Suranne Jones.
Jenny is a woman in control with a close to perfect life. She has a successful medical career, she is trusted by her community and has a loving son and husband waiting for her at home. But that seemingly perfect life is all about to explode in ways that Jenny herself can’t even begin to imagine.
Not long into the series, she suspects that her husband has been having an affair and is determined to find out the truth. As her paranoia grows and grows, she launches her own investigation that propels her family, and even some of her patients into chaos, as secrets begin unraveling.
The secrets unravel in such a manner that each hour-long episode is packed full of twists and turns. Just when you think you know where the story is going, Jenny uncovers another secret that takes you down a completely different path, which is why watching this story unfold is a beautiful thing to watch.
Not only that, but Suranne’s performance throughout is stunning. She has come a long way since her days in Coronation Street, and has managed to sustain a successful acting career ever since, something a lot of soap actors find difficult to achieve. I truly believe that Doctor Foster is her best work to date, and that’s no mean feat, considering she’s on screen 99.9% of the time!
It’s not all about Suranne though, there’s a great supporting cast, including Bertie Carvel who plays Simon, her husband. You can always rely on Carvel to give a great performance, and he doesn’t disappoint. Although when it comes to picking a side between Jenny and Simon, I’m definitely on the side of Jenny.
There’s not a lot more I can say about the plot, without giving away spoilers, and I wouldn’t want to ruin it for you. I’ve been lucky enough to watch the first two episodes, each ending with an excellent cliffhanger, leaving you wanting more.
The biggest misconception would be to think of Doctor Foster as a medical drama. It absolutely isn’t. Yes the main character is a doctor and yes you occasional see her in her surgery but that’s about it. Doctor Foster is very much a domestic drama about relationships and betrayal. It’s also the best UK drama so far this year, so make sure you don’t miss it.