Forever Home | Preview (5)

An adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name by award-winning broadcaster, comedian, writer and actor Graham Norton. The series is co-produced by FilmNation Entertainment and The Mediapro Studio, supported by the North East Production Fund and North East Screen.

When her older partner Robert's dementia worsens, Carol Crottie starts to wonder if the reason he won’t leave his home has something to do with the whereabouts of his first wife, who ran off with Robert’s brother 20 years ago, leaving behind their two young children, Kaden and Sally.

When Robert’s anxiety about the house’s hidden basement grows, Carol’s curiosity is piqued as she and her mother investigate the whereabouts of Robert’s first wife, Joan. But the secrets Robert has kept will take a long time to untangle.

The cast include Amy Nuttall (The Feud, Downton Abbey), Douglas Henshall (The Revenge Club, Shetland), Denise Welch (Tip Toe, Waterloo Road), Kevin Whately (Inspector Morse, Lewis), Samantha Bond (The Marlow Murder Club, The Inheritance), Lewis Cope (Emmerdale, Strictly Come Dancing), Jenny Walser (Heartstopper, Sweetpea S2), Shane Zaza (Invasion, Big Boys), and James Baxter (Alma’s Not Normal, Waterloo Road).

In the first episode, it opens with a flashback to the Barrie family’s fractured past: young Sally and Kaden return home to find their mother gone, leaving their father Robert devastated and forbidding any mention of her name. The transformation of the house marks the passage of time - especially the cellar door, which becomes increasingly concealed.

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In the present, Carol, Robert’s partner, wakes during a storm to find Robert acting strangely, forbidding her from entering the cellar, which is now flooded and we realise he is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s. Carol’s curiosity leads her to discover boxes of Joan’s, Robert’s ex-wife, belongings in the cellar, including photos and personal items, revealing the depth of Robert’s unresolved feelings and the code to the cellar lock, Robert and Joan’s wedding day.

Meanwhile, Sally, now a social media influencer, and Kaden, an estate agent, navigate their own complicated lives. Sally’s relationship with married Patrick is secretive and transactional, while Kaden and his husband, Dan, prepare for the arrival of a surrogate baby, confronting Kaden’s childhood trauma and strained family ties. Carol tries to warn Sally and Kaden about Robert’s deteriorating mental state, but her efforts are met with resistance and denial by both of his kids.

The family gathers for Robert’s birthday, where Dan and Kaden announce their impending parenthood. The celebration takes a turn when Robert, confused and angry due to his dementia, lashes out and injures Carol, shocking everyone.

Carol reasserts Robert’s diagnosis to the family, prompting discussions about his care and the future of the house. Kaden pushes to sell the family home, citing financial and legal reasons, while Sally is tempted by the prospect of newfound wealth.

As Carol’s suspicions about Robert’s past grow, she confronts him about Joan, leading to a chilling revelation of hatred and unresolved trauma. The episode culminates in Carol’s late night investigation of the cellar...

Forever Home begins Monday 14th September at 9pm on 5.