The Au Pair on Channel 5: Plot, cast and start date of new thriller starring Sally Bretton, Kenny Doughty and David Suchet
By Helen Fear | Tue Feb 11 2025The Au Pair is the latest binge-worthy series coming soon to Channel 5, and this time the cast is even better than usual.
The channel has become THE place to visit for its easily digestible TV thrillers. This year we've already had The Castaways, starring Sheridan Smith and Céline Buckens.
And 2024 welcomed gripping series including The Wives, The Teacher series 2, Ellis, and Too Good to be True... All with reliable casts including Jo Joyner, Tamzin Outhwaite, Angela Griffin, Kara Tointon and more.
So what is The Au Pair on Channel 5 about, who's in the cast, and when does it start? Here's everything you need to know.
What is The Au Pair about? What's the plot?
The Au Pair is a brand new, original thriller coming soon to Channel 5. It follows Zoe Dalton, a woman who seems to have it all, including a successful husband, two adorable stepchildren, a thriving tailoring business, and a gorgeous countryside home in a picturesque English town.
However, obviously there's a big BUT coming... Of course, all is not as it seems in the life of Zoe. In fact, she experiences marital issues and pressure mounts when her diabetic father, George, moves in next door.
A Channel 5 synopsis tell us: "Zoe reluctantly agrees to hire an Au Pair... In comes Sandrine, a beguiling young French woman, who triggers an unsettling shift in the household. Instincts and suspicions arise as hidden agendas and long-concealed truths bubble to the surface...
How many episodes is it?
The Au Pair will be four episodes of one hour long (including adverts).
As with previous four-part dramas, we're expecting them to be stripped across four consecutive nights.
Who is in the cast of The Au Pair on Channel 5?
The ever reliable Sally Bretton will play wife Zoe Dalton, whose life begins to spiral out of control after she hires an au pair for her children.
She's best known for playing Martha Lloyd in Beyond Paradise, and Lucy in Not Going Out.
Kenny Doughty portrays Zoe's husband Chris, and dad to their two children Amber and Noah. Of course, Kenny is probably best known for playing DS Aiden Healy in Vera, and Sean in Stella.
TV legend David Suchet makes a rare TV appearance these days as Zoe's diabetic father, George, who moves in next door. He played the voice of Kaisa in His Dark Materials between 2019 and 2022, but his last physical appearance on TV was playing George Emmerson in 2018's Press. Of course, he's best known for playing Hercule Poirot across 24 years.
Lastly, French actress Ludmilla Makowski joins the cast as au pair Sandrine. She's probably best known for playing young Claire Laurent in the Netflix series Lupin.
What is the start date? How can I watch?
Channel 5 has not yet confirmed the start date for The Au Pair, but we know it's soon.
We're expecting it to drop any day now, so watch this space. It will air on Channel 5 and My5.
