An Explosive Love Triangle
An explosive love triangle, a formidable matriarch, and a tangled, toxic web of jealousy, deceit, and dysfunction are set to captivate audiences on Sunday night. When all these elements converge at a house party, the guests are inevitably Towards Zero. This classic Agatha Christie novel has been reimagined for BBC One by Rachel Bennette and is directed by Sam Yates, with the legendary Anjelica Huston leading a stellar cast that also features Matthew Rhys and Clarke Peters.
James Prichard, one of the executive producers, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating: “Simply put, Towards Zero is a brilliant story. It may be somewhat underappreciated (though my great grandmother considered it among her best works). It resonates with a modern sensibility, touching on contemporary themes of love, jealousy, and family dynamics, all set against a fantastic backdrop.”
What is Towards Zero About?
Towards Zero is set in England during the tumultuous year of 1936. Following a sensational celebrity divorce, British tennis star Nevile Strange (played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen) and his ex-wife Audrey (Ella Lily Hyland) make the audacious choice to spend a summer together at Gull’s Point, their childhood home and the coastal estate of Nevile’s aunt, Lady Tressilian (Anjelica Huston). With unresolved tensions simmering between the former childhood sweethearts and the presence of Nevile’s new wife, Kay (Mimi Keene), the atmosphere is charged with conflict and intrigue.
Adding to the complexity are a myriad of characters: Lady Tressilian’s long-suffering companion, a mysterious gentleman’s valet, an embittered exiled cousin, a venerable family lawyer, an inquisitive orphan, and a French con man. The stage is set for an inevitable murder, and now the troubled detective Inspector Leach (Matthew Rhys) must rediscover his purpose and untangle the sinister web of lies that surrounds him. The pressing question remains: can he solve the crime before the killer strikes once more?
Who is in the Towards Zero Cast?
Anjelica Huston
Anjelica Huston takes center stage as the formidable matriarch, Lady Tressilian. The acclaimed actress described her character, stating: “Lady Tressilian is the head of a rather disjointed, unruly family. They face numerous challenges, and it falls upon her to rein them in—at least, that’s her perspective. She possesses a unique ability to persuade everyone to follow her lead.” Huston, an Academy Award winner, boasts a remarkable filmography that includes Prizzi’s Honor, Crimes and Misdemeanours, The Witches, The Addams Family, and The Royal Tenenbaums. On television, she has made notable appearances in Smash, The Watcher in the Woods, and Transparent.
Matthew Rhys
Matthew Rhys portrays the troubled Inspector Leach, charged with unraveling the murder mystery. Known for his compelling performances, the Welsh actor is widely recognized as Kevin Walker in Brothers & Sisters and Philip Jennings in the acclaimed spy drama The Americans, a role that earned him an Emmy Award. Rhys has also starred as the poet Dylan Thomas in the film The Edge of Love and portrayed Daniel Ellsberg in The Post.
Oliver Jackson-Cohen
Oliver Jackson-Cohen plays the role of Nevile Strange, a celebrity tennis player and recent divorcé. He described his character, saying: “He’s akin to the David Beckham of his time. He and Audrey are a celebrity couple, always in the public eye and adored by fans. You might label him as the arrogant cad.” Jackson-Cohen, 38, first gained recognition for his role as Phillip White in the period drama Larkrise to Candleford and has since appeared in Mr Selfridge, Dracula, Emerald City, and The Haunting of Hill House.
Ella Lily Hyland
Ella Lily Hyland takes on the challenging role of Audrey Strange, Nevile’s former wife. She explained her character’s background: “Audrey moved to Gull’s Point as a child because she was an orphan. She and Nevile were together from a very young age—what began as a sibling relationship transformed into something more romantic. I would characterize her as twisted, nihilistic, and hedonistic.” At just 26, Hyland has already made her mark in the tennis drama Fifteen-Love and appeared in last year’s spy series Black Doves. Currently, she is also starring in the historical drama A Thousand Blows.
The cast of Towards Zero also includes:
- Mimi Keene as Kay Elliot (EastEnders, Sex Education)
- Clarke Peters as Mr. Treves (The Wire, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
- Anjana Vasan as Mary Aldin (We Are Lady Parts, Wicked Little Letters)
- Jack Farthing as Thomas Royde (Poldark, Rain Dogs, The Riot Club)
- Khalil Gharbia as Louis Morel (Mary & George, The Lost Boys)
- Adam Hugill as Mac (Sherwood, The Watch)
- Grace Doherty as Sylvia (Casualty, Call The Midwife)
- Jackie Clune as Mrs. Barrett (Motherland, Borderline)
Where was Towards Zero Filmed?
Filming for Towards Zero took place last summer in the picturesque city of Bristol and along the stunning coastline of Devon. The urban scenes were captured amidst the Georgian and Victorian architecture of Bristol, while the coastal settings for Gull’s Point and the Easterhead Bay Hotel were filmed along the Devon shoreline. Additionally, some scenes were shot at the renowned All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon.
Oliver Jackson-Cohen shared that the cast spent the second week of filming on the beach in Devon, noting, “The water was absolutely freezing! That certainly made for a memorable bonding experience!” Adam Hugill, who portrays Mac, emphasized that despite the dual settings of London and Devon, the filming took place entirely on location rather than in a studio. “We were not in a studio backlot; we were immersed in the real period and authentic settings,” he remarked. “Everything was there for us—it was incredibly immersive and perfect, especially as we donned our period costumes and inhabited the genuine spaces.”
James Prichard, one of the executive producers, reflected on the significance of filming in Devon, saying, “There’s something lovely about shooting in the area where Agatha Christie grew up and drew much of her inspiration. While her stories may not all be literally set there, it certainly exists in her mental landscape.”
When is Towards Zero Airing and How Many Episodes Are There?
Towards Zero is set to premiere on BBC One on Sunday, March 2, at 9 PM. This thrilling mini-series consists of three episodes, with the remaining two episodes scheduled to air on successive Sundays at the same time. All three episodes will also be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer starting at 6 AM on Sunday, March 2.
