Down Cemetery Road
GenreThriller
DeveloperMorwenna Banks
Starring
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Num series1
Num episodes8
Executive producer
  • Mick Herron
  • Morwenna Banks
  • Emma Thompson
  • Jamie Laurenson
  • Hakan Kousetta
  • Tom Nash
ProducerEmma Burge
Runtime48–54 minutes
Company
  • 60Forty Films
NetworkApple TV
First aired29 October 2025
Last airedpresent

Down Cemetery Road is a British television series based on the 2003 novel by Mick Herron, adapted by Morwenna Banks. The series premiered on 29 October 2025 on Apple TV. The second season was announced by Apple TV on 12 December 2025.[1]

Premise

A woman hires a private investigator after an explosion occurs and a girl goes missing on the same night in a quiet suburb of Oxford.[2]

Cast and characters

Main

  • Emma Thompson as Zoë Boehm, a misanthropic private investigator
  • Ruth Wilson as Sarah Trafford (née Tucker), an art conservationist caught up in a criminal conspiracy in the aftermath of an explosion in her neighbourhood
  • Adeel Akhtar as Hamza Malik, an officious military intelligence operator working under C on a black operation
  • Darren Boyd as C, a senior official in the intelligence services overseeing a black operation
  • Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Michael Downey, a former soldier also investigating the events in Oxford
  • Adam Godley as Joe Silverman, an idealistic private investigator, husband of Zoë Boehm
  • Tom Goodman-Hill as Gerard Inchon, an abrasive loud-mouth banker
  • Fehinti Balogun as Amos Crane, a robotic and resourceful assassin
  • Lydia Leonard as Talia Ross, a new government minister about to take office in the Ministry of Defence
  • Sinead Matthews as Denise/"Wigwam", Sarah's naive new-age friend and neighbour
  • Ken Nwosu as Rufus, Denise's boyfriend
  • Aaron Neil as Detective Investigator Ash Varma, a police detective trusted by Zoë Boehm
  • Pip Torrens as Dr Isaac Wright, a doctor working with C on a black operation
  • Tom Riley as Mark, Sarah's husband, a banker
  • Aiysha Hart as Paula, Gerard Inchon's wife
  • Sara Kestelman as Janice Silverman, Joe Silverman's mother
  • Steven Cree as Bob Poland, Zoë Boehm's younger lover
  • Ella Bruccoleri as Steph Ricci, a nurse who is part of Malik's black operation
  • Joshua James as Wayne, a morgue worker and hacker who assists Zoë Boehm
  • Sophia Brown as Ella Downey, Michael Downey's sister
  • Gary Lewis as Captain Donny, a Scottish fisherman

Supporting

  • Ivy Quoi as Dinah Singleton, a young girl whose apparent disappearance is investigated by Sarah
  • Mark Benton as Tony McGrath, a university professor and friend of Joe
  • Ioanna Kimbook as Cheski Galanis, Talia Ross's political aid
  • Jonny Lavelle as Ty, a member of Malik's team
  • Hugo Chegwin as Nev, a member of Malik's team
  • David Moorst as Sam, a hotel receptionist
  • Harry Anton as Eli, C's chauffeur
  • Aisha Toussaint as DCI Shona, a Scottish detective

Production

Development

The project, from the London-based 60Forty Films, was announced in April 2024 with Natalie Bailey as lead director and Morwenna Banks adapting the Mick Herron novel, and executive producer. Other executive producers include Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta and Tom Nash of 60Forty Films, as well as Herron, and Emma Thompson.[3][4] On 12 December 2025, Apple TV renewed the series for a second season.[5]

Casting

Emma Thompson stars as investigator Zoë Boehm alongside Ruth Wilson as Sarah Trafford (née Tucker).[6] In August 2024, Adeel Akhtar, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Tom Goodman-Hill, Darren Boyd, Tom Riley, Adam Godley, Sinead Matthews, Ken Nwosu, Fehinti Balogun, and Aiysha Hart joined the cast.[7] The cast also includes Ella Bruccoleri.[8]

Filming

Although the series is primarily set in and around Oxford, and many of the outside scenes were filmed in that city, principal photography began in Bristol in June 2024 with locations including the University of Bristol campus.[9] Filming also took place in Bishops Lydeard railway station and Street, Somerset.[10][11]

Release

The series debuted on Apple TV on 29 October 2025, with the first two episodes and the rest debuting on a weekly basis until the finale on 10 December.[12]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 79% based on 56 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "A twisty mystery that grows more addictive as it unfolds, Down Cemetery Road is tonally imbalanced but has a steadfast center of gravity in Emma Thompson's flinty star turn."[13] Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Apple TV announces season two for acclaimed thriller "Down Cemetery Road," starring Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson". Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Emma Thompson to star in Apple TV show set in Oxford suburb". Oxford Mail. 17 April 2024. Archived 15 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  3. ^ Otterson, Joe (16 April 2024). "Emma Thompson, Ruth Wilson to Lead 'Down Cemetery Road' Series at Apple Based on Novel by 'Slow Horses' Author". Variety. Archived 15 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  4. ^ Grobar, Matt (16 April 2024). "Emma Thompson & Ruth Wilson To Star In Apple TV+ Series 'Down Cemetery Road' Based On Book From 'Slow Horses' Scribe Mick Herron". Deadline Hollywood. Archived 16 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  5. ^ Ford, Lily (12 December 2025). "Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson's 'Down Cemetery Road' Gets Season 2 Renewal at Apple TV". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  6. ^ Warner, Sam (16 April 2024). "Ruth Wilson to star in new thriller adaptation from Slow Horses author". Digital Spy. Archived 23 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  7. ^ Grobar, Matt (28 August 2024). "Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, 'Baby Reindeer' Emmy Nominee Tom Goodman-Hill Among 10 New Additions To Apple's 'Down Cemetery Road'". Desdline Hollywood. Archived 23 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  8. ^ Hourihane, Ann Marie (29 October 2025). "Is Emma Thompson playing a sort of Nanny McPhee in Doc Martens? That would be interesting, but Down Cemetery Road is not". Independent.ie. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  9. ^ Lambert, Holly (11 June 2024). "Filming crew on Bristol Uni campus to shoot new thriller series". The Tab. Archived 15 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  10. ^ Linham, Laura (20 September 2024). "Filming wraps up at Street's Wessex Hotel for new Apple TV+ thriller starring Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson". Glastonbury.nub.news. Archived 23 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  11. ^ Smith, Alice (17 January 2025). "Film crews in village for new TV series". BBC News. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  12. ^ Nemetz, Dave. "Emma Thompson Searches for a Missing Child in Apple TV+'s Down Cemetery Road — Get Premiere Date". TVLine. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  13. ^ down_cemetery_road. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  14. ^ down-cemetery-road. Retrieved 29 October 2025.