Wanderlust is set to be unlike anything seen before on the BBC, as the drama laden with sex scenes and drug-taking gets ready to hit our screens with a bang.
The six-part series is reportedly the “raunchiest ever” to air on the network, even saucier than *that* Bodyguard sex scene last Sunday.
Written by Nick Payne and directed by Luke Snellin and Lucy Tcherniak, the drama stars Australian actress Toni Collette as Joy Richards, a middle-aged woman navigating a new stage in her marriage to Alan – played by Steven Mackintosh.
Ahead of episode one, here are five things you should know about Wanderlust…
It stars some very familiar faces
Alongside leads Collette and Mackintosh, avid TV watchers will recognise Fresh Meat’s Zawe Ashton, who plays English teacher Clare Pascal, and William Ash – of Waterloo Road and The Tunnel fame – who stars as Marvin Walters.
Royce Pierreson, Dylan Edwards, Sophie Okonedo and Emma D’Arcy are also among the cast.
It was once a play
Wanderlust was originally written for the stage but writer Nick Payne revealed that the idea of putting it on the small screen came about two years ago when a duo of executive producers were looking for a sex and relationships drama.
It is filmed in Manchester
The BBC drama is one of several this year to heavily feature Manchester. In fact, the slot Wanderlust occupies was home to Age Before Beauty, set in the same city for its six episodes.
Some scenes were filmed in Bury, with writer Payne admitting that he actually managed to drop in on filming when a gig scene was recorded there.
It is a co-production with Netflix
Wanderlust is a joint effort from broadcasting giants BBC and streaming giants Netflix. The series will be available outside the UK on the platform after its transmission here, roughly the middle of October.
It starts tonight
Wanderlust kicks off Tuesday 4 September at 9pm on BBC One.
