The Rachel Incident

The Rachel Incident
Based onThe Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue
Screenplay byCaroline O'Donoghue
Jen Statsky
Starring
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production companies
Original release
NetworkChannel 4

The Rachel Incident is an upcoming Channel 4 television series. It is an adaptation of the Caroline O'Donoghue novel of the same name. It features an ensemble cast including Máiréad Tyers, Ellis Howard, Sarah Greene, Daniel Ings, Jeanne Ní Áinle and Ardal O'Hanlon.

Premise

A young student in Cork, Ireland in 2010 hatches a plot with her housemate to seduce her married professor.[1][2]

Cast

Production

Development

Jen Statsky and Caroline O'Donoghue co-created the eight-part adaptation of the novel of the same name by O'Donoghue. It is produced by Element Pictures, Universal Content Productions (UCP) and PageBoy. It was announced as an upcoming series for Channel 4 in February 2025.[3] It was first reported to be in development at UCP in June 2023.[4]

Máiréad Tyers, Ellis Howard, Sarah Greene and Daniel Ings were cast in February 2026, with Jeanne Ní Áinle, Ardal O'Hanlon, Molly McFadden, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Cúán Hosty-Blaney, Ciarán Dowd, and Helen Behan.[5]

Filming took place in Ireland in early 2026.[6]

Broadcast

It will air in the United Kingdom on Channel 4.[7]

References

  1. ^ Goldbart, Max (11 February 2025). "Channel 4 Confirms 'A Woman Of Substance' Remake On Splashy TV Drama Slate Featuring 'The Rachel Incident', 'Undeclared War' Season 2 & Daisy Haggard's Latest". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  2. ^ Rountree, Sara (16 February 2026). "Normal People fans will love new Channel 4 drama set in Cork". Corkbeo.ie. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  3. ^ McHugh, Marian (12 February 2025). "Channel 4 outlines six-strong drama slate". Broadcast Now. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  4. ^ White, Peter (27 June 2023). "Caroline O'Donoghue's 'The Rachel Incident' To Be Adapted For TV By UCP". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  5. ^ "The Rachel Incident cast; C4 unites with Tesco on digital series; ByteDance curbs AI; Adolescence awards". Broadcast Now. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  6. ^ Ryder, James (17 February 2026). "Love, longing and late capitalism in Cork: The Rachel Incident begins filming". atvtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  7. ^ "THE RACHEL INCIDENT: CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR NEW CHANNEL 4 IRISH DRAMA". TV Zone UK. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.