Suspect: What we know about Channel 4’s new star-studded thriller

What’s Suspect about? 

Based on the Danish series called Forhøret, the show begins with Detective Danny Frater (James Nesbitt) being called to the hospital for a routine ID check of a young woman. Danny is devastated when he finds that the body on the slab is in fact his estranged daughter, Christina (Imogen King.) 

While the autopsy suggests Christina died by suicide, Danny quickly becomes convinced his daughter has been murdered, sending him on a hunt for answers as he pieces together Christina’s last days and hours, all the while being forced to confront his own failings as a father as he learns more about how her life has spiralled downwards. Ultimately Danny will have to decide who, if anyone, is responsible for Christina’s death, and what the consequences will be.  

We don’t have the official trailer yet, but here’s a sneak peek from Twitter:  

“Suspect” on @Channel4 coming soon!💥@eagleeyedrama @More4Tweets pic.twitter.com/ImsEvEUe2x

— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) May 10, 2022

With just eight half-hour episodes, each installment sees Nesbitt opposite a different actor who is in some way connected to his daughter, making for intense and up-close-and-personal interactions as he confronts those closed to his estranged only child. On the role and cast, Nesbitt has said,  

“I could relate to Danny, with his flaws, vulnerabilities and the devastating situation he faces, from the very first moment I picked up the script. Each episode of Suspect is an intensely theatrical double-hander, a psychological battle of wits between Danny and another character who may know something about his daughter’s untimely death, and I really can’t wait to lock horns with my fellow cast members and to lead this incredible array of acting talent.” 

Executive producer Jo McGrath also commented, saying:  

“Suspect has a distinctive narrative architecture which is both incredibly intimate and very intense, which represents an exciting challenge for any actor and I’m sure that’s one of the reasons we have attracted such a high calibre, talented cast.” 

Speaking of the cast... 

Who is in the cast of Suspect? 

Here’s what we know about the cast so far: 

• James Nesbitt (Bloodlands) as the troubled Detective Danny Frater. Nesbitt is no stranger to playing the role of haunted detective, having recently played DS Michael Broome in Netflix’s Stay Close, as well as DCI Tom Brannick in BBC One’s Bloodlands. But it’s the cast and two-hander episodes that we think will make this crime drama different. 

• Richard E. Grant (Withnail and I) as Harry Carr, a business mogul 

• Ben Miller (Death in Paradise) as Richard, Danny’s former boss 

• Joely Richardson (The Tudors) as pathologist Jackie Sowden 

• Anne-Marie Duff (Shameless) plays Danny’s ex-wife Susannah 

• Niamh Algar (The Virtues) as Christina’s partner 

• Antonia Thomas (Misfits, The Good Doctor) as club manager Maia 

• Sacha Dhawan (Line of Duty) as drug dealer Jaisal 

• Sam Heughan (Outlander) as Danny’s ex-police partner Ryan 

• Imogen King (The Bay) as Christina 

How can I watch Suspect?

Suspect starts with a double bill on Sunday 19th June at 9pm and 9:30pm on Channel 4. Double episodes will air at the same time every night from Sunday 19th June - Wednesday 22nd June, with the finale airing at 9:30pm on Wednesday 22nd June. You can also watch Suspect on All4.  

Check out the other top crime dramas to watch now as recommended by our telly experts, including more from James Nesbitt.  

Showcase Get the best TV picks of the week from our team of telly experts		What's On Find out what's coming up this week on Freesat's TV Guide