Liar (TV series)
television series

Liar is a British thriller television 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. The programme was renewed for a second and final series, which premiered on 2 March 2020, concluding on 6 April 2020.
Plot
Laura Nielson, a smart and capable teacher in the middle of a breakup, is set up on a date with widowed surgeon Andrew Earlham. However, the morning after, Laura realises she has been raped. When reporting the rape to the police proves fruitless, Laura investigates the incident herself.
Cast and characters
Main
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 in Laura's class
Zoë Tapper as Katy Sutcliffe, Laura's older sister, a surgical nurse who works with Andrew at the local hospital
Richie Campbell as Liam Sutcliffe, Katy's husband and father of her two children
Jamie Flatters as Luke Earlham, Andrew's son who is a pupil in Laura's class
Shelley Conn as DI Vanessa Harmon, a detective with the fictional Thanet and Dover Police who investigates Laura's allegation of rape
Danny Webb as DS Rory Maxwell, a Thanet & Dover Police detective and second in command to Vanessa Harmon
Kieran Bew as Ian Davis, Laura's new love interest
Recurring
Warren Brown as PC Tom Bailey (Series 1), Laura's ex-boyfriend who is having an affair with her sister, Katy
Eileen Davies as Andrew Earlham's elderly friend Sylvia (Series 1)
Jill Halfpenny as Jennifer Robertson, Vanessa's wife, a soldier
Dawn Steele as Catherine McAulay (Series 1), an Edinburgh barmaid and friend of Andrew Earlham
Katherine Kelly as DI Karen Renton (Series 2), an officer from the Metropolitan Police
Sam Spruell as Oliver Graham (Series 2), an old acquaintance of Andrew Earlham
Amy Nuttall as Winnie Peterson (Series 2), a nurse
Howard Charles as Carl Peterson (Series 2), Winnie's husband who owns a boatyard, an ex-soldier and Afghanistan veteran
Dermot Crowley as Henry Neilson (Series 2), the father of Laura Neilson and Katy Sutcliffe
Jack Colgrave Hirst, as Greg Maxwell (Series 2), son of DS Rory Maxwell, a National Crime Agency officer
Lucy Speed as a Counsellor (Series 2)
Michael Wildman as DI Michael McCoy (Series 2)
Jenny Galloway as the Marina Inn hotel receptionist (Series 2)
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.
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