Why are we obsessed with shows about cheating? Adultery stars explain – and why new series shines a different light

From the soap storylines that pepper our weeknight schedules to the likes of The Affair, Doctor Foster and BBC's more light-hearted Cheaters, the world of extra-marital liaisons have long been dissected for TV viewing pleasure.

Whether it's long-standing illicit romances, one-night stands or an unexpected fling from a beloved character, the subject matter has been raked over for years – and will likely continue to be for many more to come.

But in ITV's Adultery, the titular subject matter is being dissected in a different way, its cast says.

Chatting to Radio Times and other press about why we're all so obsessed with seeing the topic explored on our screens, series star Romola Garai shared: "I think there's a voyeurism that comes with it for sure. There's a kind of like ‘we have the affairs, so you don't have to’ sense, which I think is part of the reason it's such an attractive kind of story, particularly to commissioners and to audiences."

She went on: "But I do think this show does offer something a bit different because I don't think it is making every aspect of these people's lives sexy. I think there is a sexy aspect to the show, which is the beginning of the relationship.

"It really doesn't shy away from the fact that they're people experiencing grief, loss, mental illness and class-based issues like structural inequality. Danny [Brocklehurst] has tried to describe a realistic world that depicts people's real lives so that kind of voyeurism of like ‘Oh they're having an affair’, which is a sexy experience, it's part of it – but it's not the whole show."

When asked about the subject matter of the series, Dominic Cooper explained: "I think it's something that we all question and everyone has been tempted – whatever stage of their life. There's an honesty about it. I think it will be quite uncomfortable for many people if they're in a couple, it will raise a lot of questions with themselves and their own relationships, reflect on your own behaviour.

"You reflect on your partners, you question the entirety of your existence within relationships. It was really kind of enforcing or taking me back to how I've dealt with situations or how I've been treated. I hope that people watch it as maybe a guide of how not to be or how damaging it can be."

But as Cooper suggests, Adultery also doesn't gloss up the subject matter and make it a high-stakes TV trope. "There's a moment where you see the exact moment the decision is made in this and it's not elaborate and big," he said.

"It's brilliant because it's part of what we deal with now, which hasn't been investigated. Affairs, love and cheating has been on the screen but actually, love and affairs and cheating in this modern age with this ridiculous thing that we're dealing with, which is just a sort of cheating tool. As he kind of points out, with all these things that I've never ever heard of before, one which we can lie and cheat and hide – or not hide actually."

The series follows Tom Kirkman (Cooper) and Beth Brookes (Garai), who find they have an insatiable desire for one another – but after their chance meeting, find out that they're actually linked through their children's budding romance.

Shelley Conn, who stars as Hannah in the series, said of how Adultery differs to other portrayals we've seen: "Something I found really interesting was the two relationships that are going on. So the teenagers – that generation and how well they navigate what they believe to be the right and wrong way to conduct a relationship. Seeing that reflected or not reflected in the older relationship is, I think, an angle that I'm not sure we've seen."

Matthew McNulty, who plays Neil, added: "I quite like how it parallels that chemical hormonal love of the teenagers – like that can happen again like that.

"Despite having all the wise knowledge of life, and as an adult, you can still fall. I guess that's the difference of having that parallel with the kids, it's like experiencing that magic again when you when you feel like your life's just difficult."

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.

Adultery premieres on ITV1 on Sunday 25 October at 9pm, continuing on Monday at 9pm. All episodes will be available to stream on ITVX.

Add Adultery to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.