“The tension of a ticking bomb”: Channel 5’s new “real-time” thriller, Intruder, will get your heart thumping

The best dramas are the ones that really get your heart thumping - and Channel 5's new psychological thriller, Intruder, is set to do exactly that. Starring Jonathan's Creek's Alan Davies and I, Jack Wright’s Nikki Amuka-Bird (pictured above), the real-time series is set in a single location and sees a former national treasure accused of the unthinkable by, you guessed it, an intruder of sorts. According to Channel 5, it has the tension of a ticking time bomb, which means it's sure to be an addictive watch!

The mind-bending thriller follows Lenny Bray (Davies), a once-beloved star who has fallen on hard times, retreating to his mansion with his wife Maggie (Amuka-Bird). A quiet evening at home takes a shocking turn when a young stranger - barefoot and covered in blood - shows up unannounced to confront Lenny and expose some deep, dark secrets. Intrigued? We thought you would be.

While we wait for Intruder to arrive on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the new drama, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

What is Intruder about?

This upcoming drama is a real-time, single-location psychological thriller, which centres around Lenny Bray (Alan Davies) who was once a national treasure and now spends most of his time in his mansion, hiding from headlines and haunted by whispers. That is, until one fateful night that changes everything.

One an otherwise quiet evening, a young man known as Ben (Logan Mersh) turns up at Lenny's front door. He's barefoot, bleeding, and is in possession of a story Lenny hoped was buried. During the course of that one night, Lenny and his wife Maggie (Nikki Amuka-Bird) must confront the stranger’s explosive accusations, and, according to the official synopsis, "their own complicity in a past steeped in power, silence, and manipulation."

The synopsis continues: "Darkly comic and emotionally raw, this is a story about guilt, truth, and what happens when survivors come knocking." The series is inspired by Channel 5’s Play for Today format, and each production will champion new voices and focus on bringing low-income talent into the spotlight behind the scenes in writing, directing and production roles.

Who’s in the cast of Intruder?

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As we mentioned, Jonathan Creek and QI icon Alan Davies stars as Lenny Bray, while Knock at the Cabin's Nikki Amuka-Bird plays his wife Maggie. Meanwhile, newcomer Logan Mersh plays Ben, the show’s titular intruder.

Is Intruder worth watching?

Yes! The real-time, single-location filming premise is intriguing - and our interest is piqued by the disgraced national treasure element. Real-time dramas have been having their moment in the sun recently, with the storming success of Netflix's Adolescence, as well as The Studio. A word of warning though, prepare for it to get your heart thumping!

How can I watch Intruder?

Channel 5 hasn’t yet shared a release date for Intruder, but we do know that the series is set to air before the end of 2025. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we'll share it here.

What other Channel 5 dramas can I watch now?

We’d highly recommend checking out domestic thriller The Feud, which follows a couple who life an idyllic life in Shrewsbury - that is, until they decide to do a kitchen extension and find out their neighbours aren't quite as nice as they seem. Alternatively, try The Au Pair, which centres around a seemingly-perfect family who hire a beguiling nanny - and of course, things quickly begin to fall apart. Both are available to stream on Channel 5 now.