Channel 5's The Wives debuts tonight with cast details, episode guide and plot unveiled
The Wives debuts on Channel 5 tonight, with the new drama set to air over the next two weeks- but who is in the cast and what is the show about?
Channel 5 launches The Wives tonight as part of its thrilling autumn lineup, which also includes hit shows like All Creatures Great and Small and The Teacher. The exciting new drama zeroes in on three British sisters-in-law who meet up in Malta for frequent family getaways.
Their most recent holiday has them confronting shifts within the family dynamic and their own lives' twists and turns. First revealed to be in production back in November 2023, the series comes from the creative mind of writer Helen Black.
Malta's picturesque backdrop served as the filming location, with anticipation building towards the premiere episode which will air at 9pm. Helen Black drew inspiration for the series from Daphne du Maurier's classic 1938 thriller 'Rebecca', acknowledging the enigmatic quality of the late first wife who is exalted and seen as an angel despite her husband's haste in finding a new flame, hinting at something more sinister beneath the surface.
Helen opened up about her thoughts to Radio Times, stating: "The previous wife is spoken about with such deference and is held up as an angel, yet funnily enough the husband quickly finds a new partner, which arouses suspicions."
The intriguing aspect of the series is the life stage some face when friends may be going through divorces or widowhood, and how new relationships are assimilated within social groups, she explained: "A dynamic I find interesting is that age in life when some friends are divorced or widowed and a new partner enters that circle."
Heres everything you need to know about the series.
Leading the cast in 'The Wives' are Angela Griffin, Tamzin Outhwaite, and Jo Joyner, taking on the roles of the sister trio.
We see Jo Joyner portraying Beth Morgan, flanked by Tamzin as Sylvia and Angela as Natasha.
Jo, 47, is known for her roles as Tanya Branning on EastEnders and Mandy Carter on Ackley Bridge.
Meanwhile, Tamzin brings her expertise at 53 years old, having previously shone in EastEnders playing Mel Owen.
Angela, a 48 year old actress and TV presenter, is recognised for her roles as Fiona Middleton in Coronation Street and Kim Campbell in Waterloo Road.
The cast also includes Christine Bottomley as Annabelle Morgan, Jamie Bamber as Charlie Morgan, Katie Clarkson-Hill as Jade, Ben Willbond as Frankie Morgan, Jonathan Forbes as Sean Morgan, Catriona Chandler as Sky Morgan, Louis Boyer as Luca Vella, and Ajay Chhabra as Vinay Taneja.
The Wives is a six-part series, with each episode lasting an hour. The show will air on Channel 5 at 9pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
The schedule is as follows:
Episode 1 - Monday September 16
Episode 2 - Tuesday September 17
Episode 3 - Wednesday September 18
Episode 4 - Monday September 23
Episode 5 - Tuesday September 24
Episode 6 - Wednesday September 25
The plot of The Wives revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a family member. The synopsis for the first episode reads: "A year after the mysterious disappearance of a family member, the Morgan family return to Malta for the summer, hoping to move on."
However, the reunion raises suspicions about Charlie, Annabelle's husband, as he arrives with his new girlfriend Jade, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his missing wife.
Three women decide to search for answers, uncovering family secrets along the way.
Expanding on the intricacies of the plot, Radio Times revealed: "When their fellow sister-in-law Annabelle (Christine Bottomley) died a year ago, it was ruled an accident, but when her widower starts dating a woman who bears a striking resemblance to her, suspicions abound."
The Wives airs on Channel 5 from 9pm