First look: Apples Never Fall

Ah, autumn. There’s something rather comforting about the cooler, shorter nights, the crisping of the leaves and the chance to throw on your favourite old jumper. And, of course, all those pumpkin spice lattes – the inescapable mince pies of this time of year.

It’s not all just treasured knitwear and hyped-up caffeinated beverages, though. Autumn’s also a killer time for high quality crime and mystery thrillers and dramas on our television screens. And this season, the most-anticipated new crime drama is undoubtedly Apples Never Fall.

It’s based on a book, isn’t it?

Absolutely. A Liane Moriarty book, to be specific. The Australian author of New York Times bestsellers Big Little Lies, Truly Madly Guilty and The Husband’s Secret has something of a penchant for writing beautifully complex and intriguing novels that are just perfect for television adaptations.

Apples Never Fall was first published in hardback back in September 2021. Since its release, this 467-pager has gone on to sell millions of copies in various languages all around the world.

Who’s involved in bringing Apples Never Fall to our screens?

The series’ showrunner Melanie Marnich has been a writer for HBO drama Big Love and has worked as a producer on shows such as The Affair, The Big C, The Son and The OA.

Essex-born Dawn Shadforth co-directs the series alongside Chris Sweeney. Shadforth was behind the camera for one of the best UK dramas of 2021, Channel 4’s Adult Material. Meanwhile, Sweeney directed three episodes of the BBC’s smash hit crime thriller The Tourist and six parts of the terrific Daisy Haggard black comedy Back to Life.

And who makes up the cast?

Heading up the talent here is a pair of certified Hollywood greats. Topping the bill is the five-time Academy Award-nominated Annette Bening, star of hit movies such as American Beauty, The Grifters and Open Range. She plays former tennis coach Joy Delaney.

Opposite Bening as Joy’s husband Stan is Australian legend Sam Neill (Dead Calm, Jurassic Park III, Peaky Blinders). Jake Lacy (A Friend of the Family, The White Lotus) takes on the role of oldest son Troy.

Conor Merrigan Turner (Thai Cave Rescue) plays Logan Delaney, while Essie Randles (The Speedway Murders) plays the youngest Delaney, Brooke. Georgia Flood (Blacklight), Jeanine Serralles (Utopia) and Dylan Thuraisingham (Sweet Tooth) flesh out a relatively unknown but nevertheless very capable cast. One supporting actor you might well recognise is Mad Men‘s Alison Brie, who plays Amy, the oldest Delaney child.

Plot: what happens in the mystery thriller series?

The Delaney family’s life is upended when Joy, the recently retired matriarch of the clan, goes missing. Her husband Stan and their four adult children, Amy, Logan, Troy and Brooke, are thrown into chaos as they investigate her unexpected disappearance.

Old resentments resurface as the family’s dark secrets are exposed. The police suspect foul play, which forces the Delaneys to confront some rather uncomfortable truths about their past and each other.

Where can I watch it and when is it on?

If you like the sound of these apples and want to try and catch them this Fall (see what we did there?), tune in to BBC One on Saturday 21st September at 9.25pm for the first of seven episodes. As with all their original and acquired drama content, Apples Never Fall will also be made available to watch on the BBC’s iPlayer streaming service.

What are people saying about it?

Showrunner Melanie Marnich has said that the story “dives into the complexities of love, long-term marriage, and the struggle to define oneself within – and beyond – family.”

Star Annette Bening commented: “I was immediately drawn to Joy’s character because she’s a complex woman navigating long-term marriage, motherhood, and her own sense of self. It was both challenging and deeply rewarding to bring her to life.”

Sam Neill added: “Playing Stan Delaney frightened me in the best possible way. He’s a man full of contradictions, and working with Annette was an absolute joy after admiring her for so many years.”

Sue Deeks is the Head of Programme Acquisition at the BBC. She had this to say about it: “Suspenseful and sinister, Apples Never Fall is a compelling mystery drama that will keep BBC viewers intrigued until its riveting final episode.”

Love the look of Apples Never Fall? Try the book first…