Hunting Alice Bell star teases emotional toll on Fran as targeted campaign escalates in Channel 4 drama

Whilst we may not yet have the answers as to whether there's an Alice Bell in our midsts (and who it is, if so), one thing's clear from the Channel 4 drama – and it's that the accusation has sent shockwaves through each woman's life.

Centring on Fran Da Silva (Alexandra Roach), we see in the first episode of Hunting Alice Bell how one online video Fran's a part of for work soon turns into an internet storm, with strangers accusing her of being the infamous former lover and accomplice to serial killer anaesthetist Dr Jason Nash (Simon Pegg).

As well as masked men coming to her front door after her address is revealed online, we see how Fran is keen to prove that she's not the woman that people think she is. Naturally, things start to take a toll on Fran's mental health, a part of her story that we come to learn a bit more about.

Talking to Radio Times about the toll things take for Fran as the episodes go on, Roach shared: "We learn that Fran has mental health struggles in the past but like, who doesn't? I think it's just one of the things that drew me to this is the strength it takes for women to to speak out, to use their voice and what it costs them to do that in today's society, what it can cost their mental health.

"We see Fran loses her job. The social services are now involved. It really pushes Fran to the edges of herself with her mental health, keeping her family together and trying to protect herself and her family. We really see her having to struggle to do all of those things."

Also speaking about the elements of the show and role that really appealed to her, Roach said: "It was such a unique premise. I was really drawn to this story being told through Fran's experience of it. She lives a very quiet, peaceful, unassuming life and overnight, that all changes. She's thrust into this storm.

"I was really drawn to how she navigates that and her resilience; her finding her own strength through finding these other women who are also going through this very unique experience and them coming together. There's so many twists and turns. I was just reading it and being like, 'Really, what is going to happen?' And the sort of the thriller aspect, the psychological thriller aspect. So all of those things was like a big melting pot, and I felt like I really needed to tell this story."

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The official synopsis for Hunting Alice Bell reads: "Alice Bell is a former nurse, and also the lover, and accomplice, of a notorious anaesthetist serial killer. She is presently living in Britain under a new identity.

"When, online, Fran Da Silva is accused of being Alice Bell, her happy family life implodes in a wave of mob hate."

It continues: "Then she discovers she’s not the only woman to suffer this fate. Fran and the other accused women band together to fight back and clear their names. But as they battle to prove their innocence, what if one of the group is lying – and is the real Alice Bell..?"

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Hunting Alice Bell premieres on Wednesday 11 November at 9pm on Channel 4.

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Authors

Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.