The Rachel Incident is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Element Pictures (a Fremantle company) in association with Pageboy Productions.
Filming has commenced in Ireland on brand-new drama series The Rachel Incident, adapted by Caroline O’Donoghue from her best-selling novel of the same name and produced by UCP and award-winning Element Pictures (Normal People, Poor Things) in association with PAGEBOY Productions. The eight-part series is aching with unrequited love, shot through with delicious, sparkling humour about friends, lovers, Ireland in chaos, and a young woman desperately trying to manage all three.
Leading the cast is Máiréad Tyers (Extraordinary, The Walsh Sisters) as Rachel, who stars alongside Ellis Howard (What It Feels Like for a Girl, Red Rose) as James, Sarah Greene (Bad Sisters, Normal People) as Deenie and Daniel Ings (The Gentlemen, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) as Dr. Fred Byrne.
Set in Cork in 2010, Rachel is a student working at a bookstore when she meets James - and it is love at first sight. Effervescent and insistently heterosexual, James soon invites Rachel to be his roommate, and the two begin a friendship that changes the course of both their lives forever. Together, they run riot through the streets of Cork City, trying to cultivate a bohemian existence while the reality of the recent financial crash looms over them.
When Rachel admits to a huge crush on her married professor, Dr. Fred Byrne, James helps her devise a launch for his new book at the store, with the hope that she might seduce him afterwards… But Fred, as it turns out, has other desires. So begins a series of secrets and compromises that intertwine the fates of James, Rachel, Fred, and Fred's wife Deenie, an incredibly cool and well-connected literary editor.
Also joining the stellar line-up is Cúán Hosty-Blaney (Say Nothing, House of Guinness) as Carey, Ciarán Dowd (Bad Sisters, Marriage) as Ben, Helen Behan (Malpractice, The Virtues) as Bridget, Ardal O’Hanlon (Sherlock and Daughter, The Woman in the Wall) as Paul, Jeanne Ní Áinle (Hidden Assets, North Sea Connection) as Sabrina, Molly McFadden as Sinead, Maria Doyle Kennedy (KIN, Recipes For Love And Murder) as Vivian and more.
Caroline O’Donoghue said: “Máiréad Tyers is a star and has always been my first choice to play Rachel. She and the phenomenally charming Ellis Howard create what feels like an instantly iconic double act, fizzing with all the love and panic that makes being in your early twenties both nightmarish and amazing. To have the brilliant Sarah Greene and Daniel Ings as Deenie and Fred is a dream, and I'm gushing with enthusiasm for the rest of the cast who make the world of THE RACHEL INCIDENT feel so alive and full of energy - including but not limited to Ardal O'Hanlon and Maria Doyle Kennedy, actors I grew up loving and still can't believe are joining our team. Collaborating with Giulia Gandini and Megan K. Fox and our entire crew has already been such a joy and I am once again grateful to the teams at Channel 4, UCP, Element Pictures and PAGEBOY for their continued support in building this show, which I can't wait to share with audiences.”
Máiréad Tyers said: “I am so excited and grateful to be part of this project. I read the book when it first came out and fell in love with Caroline’s writing and this story - and with Channel 4, UCP, Element Pictures and PAGEBOY at the helm, Rachel and James’ story couldn’t be in safer hands.”
Rebecca Holdsworth, Commissioning Editor, Channel 4 Drama says: “Channel 4 are thrilled to be part of bringing The Rachel Incident to life alongside our partners at UCP, Element Pictures and PAGEBOY. Caroline’s scripts, just like her novel, are a joy; funny, sharp, and full of heart. We’ve found our perfect Rachel in the brilliant Máiréad Tyers, and can’t wait to see her form an iconic and irresistible duo with talented co-star Ellis Howard as he takes up the part of James.”
The Rachel Incident was commissioned by Rebecca Holdsworth, Commissioning Editor, Channel 4 Drama. The series will be produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group and Element Pictures (a Fremantle company) in association with PAGEBOY Productions, filmed with support from Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland. Executive Producers for Element Pictures are Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Christopher Aird and Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann. PAGEBOY Productions’ Matt Jordan Smith and Elliot Page are Executive Producers with Tuck Dowrey as Associate Producer. Jen Statsky serves as Executive Producer through her First Thought Productions. The eight-part series is written, created and executive produced by Caroline O’Donoghue. Emma Fleischer is Producer, and also serves as Executive Producer, with Giulia Gandini and Megan K Fox directing. The series will be distributed by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution.
ENDS
About UCP
UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, is a best-in-class television studio that produces genre-defying, ground-breaking and intentional storytelling with a sense of discovery. Led by President Beatrice Springborn, UCP collaborates with visionary creators, including Nick Antosca, Seth MacFarlane, Patrick Macmanus, Sue Naegle, and Jenna Bush Hager. The studio's top titles include the Emmy® Award-winning series “The Umbrella Academy,” “Monk,” “The Act” and “Mr. Robot”; Emmy-nominated series “Candy” and “Gaslit”; fan favorites “Ted” and “Resident Alien”; and acclaimed dramas “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy,” “Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” “Dr. Death,” “A Friend of the Family” and “The Girl From Plainville.”
About Channel 4
Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer. The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For more than 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.
Working with hundreds of creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.
In 2024, Channel 4 launched its Fast Forward strategy to accelerate its transformation into an agile and genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. It is designed to ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift in TV viewing, elevates its impact across the UK and stands out in a crowded market.
From its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is fully committed to harnessing the power of its regional structure to increase its impact across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions. 4Skills invests millions in training, development and learning opportunities annually.
Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 43 Oscar wins and 97 BAFTA wins in its history.
About Element Pictures
Element Pictures is an award-winning film and television drama production company run by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, with offices in Dublin and London.
Recent film releases include Yorgos Lanthimos’ BUGONIA (Focus Features), starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, which was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture, four Golden Globes including Best Picture (Comedy or Musical) and four BAFTAs. As well as Harry Lighton’s PILLION (BBC Films/BFI/Cornerstone), starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, which won Best Screenplay in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for four BAFTAs, including Outstanding British Film. In addition to the newly released debut feature from Akinola Davies Jnr, MY FATHER’S SHADOW (BBC Film/BFI/MUBI/Match Factory),
which received a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a BAFTA Outstanding Debut (director).
Previous film productions include Yorgos Lanthimos’ multi Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning films POOR THINGS and THE FAVOURITE - as well as his other English language films including THE LOBSTER, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER and KINDS OF KINDNESS. Other notable recent films include Lenny Abrahamson’s Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning ROOM as well as THE LITTLE STRANGER and Rungano Nyoni’s second feature film, ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL which won Best Director at Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard). Other films include Sebastián Lelio’s THE WONDER and DISOBEDIENCE, Joanna Hogg’s THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER and THE SOUVENIR PART II, Phyllida Lloyd’s HERSELF, Sean Durkin’s THE NEST and Ariane Labed’s SEPTEMBER SAYS.
Current television projects include THE CAGE, a series created by the BAFTA-nominated writer Tony Schumacher, starring Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha for the BBC, season 3 of THE DRY, written by Nancy Harris for RTE/ITV. In addition to the television adaptations of Caroline O’Donoghue’s THE RACHEL INCIDENT and Michael Magee’s CLOSE TO HOME, both projects are with Channel 4. Previous television credits include adaptations of Sally Rooney’s novels, NORMAL PEOPLE and CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS, both directed by Lenny Abrahamson; Nancy Harris’ THE DRY seasons 1 & 2; Shane Meadows’ period drama THE GALLOWS POLE; and an adaptation of Jordan Tannahill’s book, THE LISTENERS for the BBC.
To date Element Pictures’ productions have won 6 Academy Awards, 15 Baftas and 4 Golden Globes. In May 2022, Fremantle acquired a majority stake in Element Pictures.
About PAGEBOY
PAGEBOY Productions is a film and television production company founded by Academy Award–nominee Elliot Page, focused on bold, emotionally grounded, and culturally resonant storytelling across film, television, documentary, podcast, and VR. PAGEBOY develops and produces entertaining, original, and commercially viable work that is also socially responsible, prioritizing safety, representation, and intersectional equity at every stage of the creative process.
On the feature film front, PAGEBOY has produced acclaimed independent films including BACKSPOT, starring Evan Rachel Wood and Devery Jacobs, and CLOSE TO YOU, starring Elliot Page and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dominic Savage—both released theatrically and celebrated for their intimate character work and international festival runs. In documentary, the company has released Peabody award-winning ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY, SECOND NATURE, and A DEEPER LOVE: THE STORY OF MISS PEPPERMINT, projects that reflect PAGEBOY’s commitment to deeply personal, socially engaged nonfiction storytelling by and for voices that have historically been marginalized.
PAGEBOY’s upcoming film slate includes the highly anticipated adaptation of the acclaimed novel THE DARKNESS OUTSIDE US, continuing the company’s focus on elevated, character-driven genre storytelling with global appeal.
In television, PAGEBOY is currently in production and development on a robust slate of scripted series. This includes CRUSH, a limited series for Peacock starring Elizabeth Banks, and the television adaptation of the celebrated video game BEYOND: TWO SOULS. The company is also producing THE RACHEL INCIDENT, based on the internationally beloved novel from Caroline O’Donoghue , further expanding PAGEBOY’s presence in premium scripted television. In Canada, PAGEBOY has a first-look deal with Bell Media for Crave and is producing the upcoming half-hour comedy series SLO PITCH, with additional series in development under that partnership. PAGEBOY is also developing LEN & CUB for Paramount+, alongside projects set across Germany, the UK, and Australia.
Expanding beyond traditional formats, PAGEBOY is developing a VR adaptation of WHEN BROOKLYN WAS QUEER, reflecting the company’s belief that innovative platforms can create new, meaningful pathways for representation and audience engagement.
Across all mediums, PAGEBOY champions distinctive voices and subversive storytelling, believing that high-quality art created by intentionally marginalized communities is essential to shifting power structures within the entertainment industry and beyond. With an exciting slate of film and television projects still to be announced, PAGEBOY continues to position itself as a home for daring storytellers and bold, uncompromising work.
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