Liar is a British thrillertelevision series created by Harry and Jack Williams, and co-produced by ITV and SundanceTV. The series stars Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd as two people whose initial attraction leads to far-reaching consequences for them and their friends and families. The series premiered on ITV on 11 September 2017, with the first series concluding on 16 October 2017. Upon its debut, it received positive reviews, with many critics praising the performances of Froggatt and Gruffudd. The programme was renewed for a second and final series, which premiered on 2 March 2020, concluding on 6 April 2020.
Premise
Laura Nielson, a smart and capable teacher in the middle of a breakup, is set up on a date with recently widowed surgeon Andrew Earlham. However, the day after it is apparent that something has gone wrong, and the subsequent fallout rapidly spirals out of control, exposing the power of truth, deception and trust.
Cast and characters
Joanne Froggatt as Laura Nielson, a smart and dedicated teacher who is newly single.
Ioan Gruffudd as Andrew Earlham, a renowned surgeon whose son, Luke, is a pupil at Laura's school.
Sam Spruell as Oliver Graham, an old acquaintance of Andrew Earlham who gave Earlham the idea of his date rape crimes.
Amy Nuttall as Winnie Peterson, a nurse who was also raped by Earlham.
Howard Charles as Carl Peterson, Winnie's husband who owns a boatyard, an ex-soldier and Afghanistan veteran.
Dermot Crowley as Henry Neilson, the father of Laura Neilson and Katy Sutcliffe.
Jack Colgrave Hirst As Greg Maxwell, son of DS Rory Maxwell, a National Crime Agency officer.
Lucy Speed as a Counsellor, who is counselling Luke Earlham with his feelings after his attempted suicide.
Michael Wildman as DI Michael McCoy, who is investigating DI Renton's ex-partner Anthony Farr for suspected murder in an unrelated crime.
Jenny Galloway as the Marina Inn hotel receptionist.
Production
Liar was announced on 15 April 2016 as the first full production from Two Brothers Pictures. On 30 September 2016, the miniseries was commissioned by American cable network SundanceTV and British commercial broadcaster ITV. Commercial broadcasters TF1 and Seven have also ordered the series. Filming for the series began in London and Kent in November 2016. The marshes were filmed in Tollesbury, Essex. The seaside hometown for main character Laura was filmed at Deal, Kent and Kingsdown. Some inner town sequences in Brockley, Nunhead, Shortlands, South Ealing, and Edinburgh. After the first series concluded on 16 October 2017, it was announced that the programme would be returning for a second series. The second series, which premiered on 2 March 2020, focuses on a whodunnit storyline involving the cliffhanger of the first series' finale. Froggatt and Gruffudd both returned.
Episodes
Series 1 (2017)
Series 2 (2020)
Broadcast
The series premiered on ITV on 11 September 2017 at 9pm, in exactly the same slot that the Two Brothers Pictures series Rellik premiered on BBC One. It premiered on SundanceTV on 27 September 2017. The series was acquired in Australia by the Seven Network and in New Zealand by TVNZ.
