As Jill Halfpenny's 'borderline preposterous' Channel 5 thriller about neighbours from hell lands on Netflix, all you need to know
Drama boasts a cast of dreams! Or nightmares in this particular case...
The Feud is the latest thriller from Channel 5 to land on Netflix this November. Described as “a story of obsession, paranoia, and fear”, it stars some of our favourite TV actors including Jill Halfpenny and Rupert Penry-Jones.
If you’re partial to a bonkers C5 drama like us, then you’ll already know that Jill and Rupert previously appeared together in The Drowning (the four-parter is still available to watch on Channel5.com).
Like The Au Pair, and The Wives before it, The Feud stars some very cool actors in a borderline preposterous story. And that’s exactly how we like it!
Here’s everything you need to know about Channel 5’s The Feud including the plot, cast, episodes, and release date on Netflix.
What is the plot of The Feud from Channel 5?
Middle-aged married couple Emma and John Barnett, along with their daughter Beth, appear to live an idyllic life on Shelbury Drive. Of course, this is a TV show we’re talking about so their peaceful existence is about to be ruined.
Emma and John are close friends with their neighbours Sonia and Alan on one side, and generally humour older couple, Derek and Barbara, on the other.
However, when Emma and John decide to add a kitchen extension to their house, these friendships prove to be less stable that they all thought.
A C5 synopsis tells us: “As objections to Emma’s plans are raised, life-threatening secrets start rising to the surface. Laced with menace, The Feud reveals how Emma’s aspirational dream turns sharply into obsession, paranoia, and fear.”
When does The Feud drop on Netflix? How can I watch it?
The Feud is available on Netflix from Sunday, November 9, 2025, having originally debuted on Channel 5 this year on Monday, April 14.
The first three episodes were stripped across the week, with the final three airing in the same format the following week.
All six episodes drop as a boxset on Netflix. You can also access the boxset on 5 and Channel5.com if you aren’t a Netflix subscriber.
Who’s in the cast?
The cast of The Feud is pretty impressive to say the least.
Jill Halfpenny portrays Emma Barnett, whose dreams of an extension cause havoc. Of course, Jill has previously starred in the C5 original thrillers The Cuckoo, The Drowning, and The Holiday. You most likely know her for playing Kate Mitchell in EastEnders, Izzie Redpath in Waterloo Road, and Jennifer Robertson in Liar.
Rupert Penry-Jones portrays Emma’s husband John. Rupert is famous for his roles in Spooks, The Strain, Silk, and Whitechapel.
Former Emmerdale actress Amy Nuttall, who recently popped up in Silent Witness and Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, plays Sonia Spence.
Ray Fearon – aka Nathan Harding in Coronation Street – plays her husband Alan Spence.
Grantchester star and Only Fools and Horses legend Tessa Peake-Jones plays Barbara Abshire, while The Vicar of Dibley’s James Fleet portrays her husband Derek.
Gavin & Stacey‘s Larry Lamb stars as Emma’s dad Terry, Ridley’s Megan Trower will play Beth Barnett, Derry Girls’ Jamie-Lee O’Donnell stars as PC Gallagher, and Holby City’s Alex Macqueen will play oddball neighbour Nick.
Lastly, former Coronation Street Chris Gascoyne will portray Lee the builder. It’s his first TV role since leaving the ITV soap in 2023.
How many episodes is The Feud?
The Feud has six episodes in total, each lasting approximately an hour, with ad breaks factored in.
While Channel 5 viewers had to watch the series in the old linear fashion, Netflix viewers can stream all in one go.
Where is The Feud set?
The Feud started filming in Newcastle in May 2024. Fans of Jill Halfpenny will know it’s close to wear the actress was born.
Taking about the location of the shoot, Jill said: “The courtroom scenes were fun, although it was boiling hot and we were dying from the heat that day. We had freakishly good weather in Newcastle for the whole of The Feud’s shoot.
“Sometimes our summers up here arent good, but we had the most amazing weather. Every day we woke up and it was bikini weather.”
Meanwhile, Ray Fearon added: “Rupert Penry-Jones and I we worked together on the TV series Silk and with the Royal Shakespeare Company. We have a lot of great memories and a lot of great memories of Newcastle, because years ago we worked there for quite a while.
“We’ve spent a lot of time together working in Newcastle, London, Plymouth, and New York, so it was great to see him and work with him again.”
