Jack Thorne’s new romantic drama Falling premieres on Channel 4 tomorrow, Tuesday 19 May, at 9pm, with all six episodes of the series available to stream immediately on Channel 4. The six-part drama stars Keeley Hawes as Anna, a devoted nun, and Paapa Essiedu as David, a Catholic priest, whose unexpected connection forces them to confront their vows, their faith and what it means to fall in love.
Falling follows Anna, who has spent most of her adult life inside a convent, and David, a charismatic priest trying to rebuild his life after a devastating personal tragedy. Both are deeply committed to the church and their communities, making the relationship between them as emotionally complicated as it is unexpected. According to the official synopsis, a chance encounter and misunderstanding eventually force both characters to confront their desires, fears and the lives they thought they had already chosen for themselves.
The wider cast includes Rakie Ayola, Jason Watkins, Niamh Cusack, Adrian Scarborough, David Dawson, Susan Brown and Sandra Voe, alongside newcomers Holly Rhys and Shayde Sinclair.
Hawes described the series as “beautifully observed, unsentimental and very tender,” explaining that the fact Falling was ultimately a love story was what immediately drew her to the project. She also spoke about researching convent life, including conversations with a former nun who had left the church, something she found invaluable while shaping Anna’s emotional journey.
Anna begins the series completely content within convent life, having spent more years inside the institution than outside it. Hawes explained that neither Anna nor David is searching for an escape route when they meet, which is what makes the connection between them so emotionally difficult.
Essiedu, meanwhile, said one of the things that makes Jack Thorne’s writing so distinctive is his ability to find “the sublime out of the everyday,” grounding the drama not in sweeping romantic clichés but in small interactions that gradually shift everything between two people.
David enters the story carrying guilt and grief after a devastating incident involving a young man in his parish, leaving him trying to repair both his relationship with God and his sense of purpose. Essiedu explained that the love story unfolds through tiny moments rather than dramatic declarations, describing it as the kind of connection that quietly changes “the chemistry in your brain and body.”
Thorne has described Falling as his “first ever love story,” revealing that the idea was partly inspired by his own relationship with wife Rachel Mason and the feeling of instantly recognising someone who changes the direction of your life. The writer also explained that the original concept came after executive producer George Faber sent him an article about a nun falling in love with a priest, sparking conversations about faith, devotion and desire. Not exactly the easiest romantic set-up, then, but definitely one with a lot to wrestle with.
The series is produced by The Forge Entertainment, directed by Peter Hoar (It’s A Sin, The Last of Us) and produced by Joe Donaldson, with George Ormond, George Faber and Thorne serving as executive producers.
For CultureCues, Falling looks like the kind of romantic drama Channel 4 does best: emotionally grounded, quietly complicated and interested in people rather than spectacle. The trailer already gives a clear sense of Hawes and Essiedu’s chemistry, which feels essential for a story this tender and conflicted. We’ll be watching closely and, given the premise, possibly praying for them both.
Falling premieres on Channel 4 on Tuesday 19 May at 9pm, with all six episodes available to stream immediately on Channel 4. Watch the official trailer below.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.