ITV's starry "high-stakes" Luke Evans thriller The Party finally gets air date confirmed

ITV has confirmed when its starry thriller The Party will finally reach viewers, with the five-part drama set to air across three consecutive nights on ITV1 and ITVX this autumn.

The Party will premiere on Sunday 11 October at 9pm on ITV1, continuing on Monday 12 October and Tuesday 13 October, before the remaining episodes complete the run.

The scheduling news follows an exclusive first-look trailer shared with Radio Times, in which a bloodied Evans is seen walking into a police station to be questioned about the night before, intercut with flashes of a lavish party and the sound of a gunshot.

Adapted by award-winning showrunner Sarah Solemani from Elizabeth Day's novel, the series was commissioned by ITV last year as a taut psychological tale of obsession and betrayal set over the course of a dinner party. Evans leads as Martin Gilmour, opposite The Gold's Tom Cullen as wealthy politician Ben Fitzmaurice, whose decades-long friendship sits at the drama's centre.

The cast also includes BAFTA winner Joanna Scanlan as Martin's mother Sylvia, alongside Lydia Leonard as Serena Fitzmaurice, Lindsay Duncan as Lady Katherine Fitzmaurice and Douglas Hodge as Lord George Fitzmaurice. Solemani, who adapted the novel, also appears in the drama.

The official synopsis reads: "Raised alone by his working-class mum, Sylvia, played by BAFTA award-winning Joanna Scanlan (After Love) Martin wins a scholarship to an elite boarding school, where he first meets Ben. They forge an unbreakable bond, as Ben and the Fitzmaurice's give Martin the sense of belonging he has always craved."

It continues: "In turn, Martin remains unflinchingly loyal to Ben through even the greatest crises. Three decades on, Martin is invited to Ben's lavish birthday party at the Fitzmaurice's country pile. The news of the Conservative leader's resignation threatens to derail Ben's party, as he considers announcing his intention to stand. Martin fears the publicity that Ben's bid would bring, dredging up the secrets of their past with tragic consequences…"

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The drama moves between the events of the party and the police investigation that follows, with flashbacks to Martin and Ben's lives at school, university and their London party days.

On the series being commissioned, Evans said: "From the moment I read Elizabeth Day's novel, I knew it had the makings of something truly special for television. To now be bringing The Party to life, both as an actor and as an executive producer through Stoic Productions, is incredibly rewarding."

He added: "Sarah Solemani's adaptation captures the emotional depth and tension of the story perfectly, and to collaborate once again with World Productions and ITV, alongside such an extraordinary cast, is a real privilege. The Party is a gripping exploration of loyalty, class, and the truths we hide, and I can't wait for audiences to experience it."

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The Party is on ITV1 at 9pm on Sunday 11 October 2026 and will be available to stream on ITVX.

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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.