Characters
This three-part psychological thriller set in Glasgow follows the paranoia of a woman who sees her identity being dismantled and can't work out whether the cause is another woman or her own baby.
Published: 3 February 2017
Ellen Rooney played by Morven Christie
Ellen is a successful architect who gets pregnant just as her career is about to take off. It’s not great timing but she's confident she can make it work. Her tendency to micromanage means the idea of sharing her big project makes her very nervous. Ellen doesn't believe she has to choose between family and full time career. When her mother died six years ago, Ellen struggled to cope. Her treatment for depression led her to meet her psychiatrist husband Ian. They started dating after she finished treatment but Ellen sometimes fears Ian still sees her as the fragile woman he first met.
Paula Reece played by Vicky McClure
Paula was a prodigy when she started out as an architect but stopped work to raise her daughter. Now Caris is 10, Paula feels ready to pick up where she left off. Paula respects those who want to have it all but she knows a good mother puts the child before ambition. Caris was a miracle pregnancy and Paula has built her life around her. On the surface, Paula is enthusiastic, funny and charming but there are glimpses of someone desperately trying to keep it together.
Ian Rooney played by Richard Rankin
Ian's thrilled at the prospect of becoming a father but can't switch off his psychiatrist's judgement. He met Ellen as a patient and has always struggled with boundaries when it comes to her. It doesn't help that his mother is also a psychotherapist with strong opinions about her daughter-in-law. Ellen’s refusal to conform to expectations of motherhood exasperate him but make him love her more.
David Warnock played by Dougray Scott
David runs Ellen's firm with his wife Kay. He's an introvert and lets Kay handle most of the client interaction. He keeps a tight lid on his emotions especially his feelings for Ellen. It's only when Ellen announces her pregnancy that he admits them to himself. David has always wanted to be a father and thought until now he was happy with Kay's choice.
Supporting characters
Kay Gillies played by Neve McIntosh
Award-winning architect Kay is a natural mentor and role model for her profession. She's always known what she wanted to do and it wasn't children. She has a completely fulfilling job and marriage until her friend and colleague Ellen gets pregnant. She feels excluded from Ellen's new life and fears her husband is becoming broody despite their agreement.
Kieran played by Navin Chowdhry
Kieran has been loyal to Paula through a very difficult period. He's the only one who knows the pain she's hiding and has been sworn to secrecy. He's tried to get outside help but Paula won't allow it. With no-one to confide in, his marriage is on a knife edge.
Rianne played by Sarah MacRae
Ellen’s sister Rianne is a single mother of two. Her husband walked out on her during her second pregnancy when she was reeling from her mother's death and sister's breakdown. Rianne loves Ellen but doesn’t understand her obsession with work or her hang-ups about their mother’s supposed favouritism towards Rianne.
Vernon Sinclair played by Gilly Gilchrist
Vernon is the client for Ellen’s library project. His avuncular manner belies a steely determination and judgmental nature. Privately, he's uncomfortable about Ellen’s plans to return to work so soon.
Beth played by Siobhan Redmond
Beth is a psychotherapist with little tolerance for what she sees as self-dramatizing behaviour from her daughter-in-law. She thinks her son has a blind spot where Ellen's concerned and is if anything tougher on him.
Lucy McKay played by Kim Allan
Lucy is the office manager at Ellen's firm. She's always been good friends with Ellen but is torn when Paula joins and is such a good laugh. Ellen's jealousy and paranoia make Lucy think she's going off the rails.
Georgia played by Sharon Young
Georgia is an ex-colleague of Paula who knows what she's hiding but dare not say.
