Down Cemetery Road
A twisty mystery set in Oxford after an explosion.
Down Cemetery Road is a British television adaptation of Mick Herron’s 2003 novel, written for the screen by Morwenna Banks. It debuted on Apple TV on 29 October 2025. The story centres on a woman who, after an explosion rocks a quiet Oxford suburb and a young girl vanishes the same night, enlists a private investigator. Apple TV announced a second season on 12 December 2025.
The main cast includes Emma Thompson as Zoë Boehm, a misanthropic private detective; Ruth Wilson as Sarah Trafford, an art conservationist drawn into a criminal conspiracy after the explosion in her neighbourhood; Adeel Akhtar as Hamza Malik, a rigid military intelligence officer running a black operation; Darren Boyd as C, the senior intelligence official overseeing that operation; Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Michael Downey, a former soldier probing the same events; Adam Godley as Joe Silverman, an idealistic investigator and Zoë’s husband; Tom Goodman-Hill as Gerard Inchon, an abrasive banker; Fehinti Balogun as Amos Crane, a robotic and resourceful assassin; and Lydia Leonard as Talia Ross, a new Ministry of Defence minister.
Featured cast members include Sinead Matthews as Denise, Sarah’s naive new-age friend and neighbour; Ken Nwosu as Rufus, Denise’s boyfriend; Aaron Neil as Detective Ash Varma, a police detective trusted by Zoë; Pip Torrens as Dr Isaac Wright, a doctor working on C’s black operation; Tom Riley as Mark, Sarah’s banker husband; Aiysha Hart as Paula, Gerard Inchon’s wife; Sara Kestelman as Janice Silverman, Joe’s mother; Steven Cree as Bob Poland, Zoë’s younger lover; Ella Bruccoleri as Steph Ricci, a nurse involved in Malik’s operation; Joshua James as Wayne, a morgue worker and hacker who helps Zoë; Sophia Brown as Ella Downey, Michael’s sister; and Gary Lewis as Captain Donny, a Scottish fisherman.
Supporting roles include Ivy Quoi as Dinah Singleton, the missing girl investigated by Sarah; Mark Benton as Tony McGrath, a university professor and friend of Joe; Ioanna Kimbook as Cheski Galanis, Talia Ross’s political aide; Jonny Lavelle and Hugo Chegwin as Ty and Nev, members of Malik’s team; David Moorst as Sam, a hotel receptionist; Harry Anton as Eli, C’s chauffeur; and Aisha Toussaint as DCI Shona, a Scottish detective.
The project was announced in April 2024 by London-based 60Forty Films, with Natalie Bailey as lead director and Morwenna Banks adapting the
- Premiere date
- 29 October 2025
- Network
- Apple TV
- Based on
- 2003 novel by Mick Herron
- Adapted by
- Morwenna Banks
- Lead director
- Natalie Bailey
- Production company
- 60Forty Films
- Number of seasons announced
- 2
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Thriller
- Developer
- Morwenna Banks
- Based On
- Down Cemetery Road · Mick Herron
- Starring
- Emma Thompson / Ruth Wilson / Adeel Akhtar / Darren Boyd / Nathan Stewart-Jarrett / Fehinti Balogun
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Num Series
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 8
- Executive Producer
- Mick Herron / Morwenna Banks / Emma Thompson / Jamie Laurenson / Hakan Kousetta / Tom Nash
- Producer
- Emma Burge
- Runtime
- 48–54 minutes
- Company
- 60Forty Films
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The project was announced in April 2024 with Natalie Bailey as lead director and Morwenna Banks adapting the Mick Herron novel. Emma Thompson stars as misanthropic private investigator Zoë Boehm, with Ruth Wilson as Sarah Trafford, an art conservationist caught up in a criminal conspiracy. The cast also includes Adeel Akhtar, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Tom Goodman-Hill, Darren Boyd, Tom Riley, Adam Godley, Sinead Matthews, Ken Nwosu, Fehinti Balogun, and Aiysha Hart. Principal photography began in Bristol in June 2024, with additional filming in Bishops Lydeard railway station and Street, Somerset, though the series is primarily set in and around Oxford.
Reader's Guide
Down Cemetery Road represents a notable television adaptation of Mick Herron's work, premiering on Apple TV in late 2025. The series received generally favorable reviews, with a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 81% based on 58 critic reviews and a Metacritic score of 71 out of 100. Critics noted the series as 'a twisty mystery that grows more addictive as it unfolds,' though described as 'tonally imbalanced' with a strong central performance by Emma Thompson. The show's renewal for a second season on 12 December 2025 indicates its commercial viability and audience interest. Its significance lies in bringing Herron's novel to screen with a notable cast and production team, contributing to the streaming platform's original content slate.
Did You Know?
- The series is based on the 2003 novel by Mick Herron, adapted by Morwenna Banks.
- Emma Thompson stars as private investigator Zoë Boehm.
- Principal photography began in Bristol in June 2024.
- The second season was announced by Apple TV on 12 December 2025.
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