Published: April 9, 2025 -- Channel 4 has announced Emmy award-winning Dougray Scott (Crime, My Week with Marilyn), Shirley Henderson (Bridget Jones, Harry Potter), and Valene Kane (Blue Lights, Gangs of London) will lead the cast of compelling Scottish drama, Summerwater.

First look images of the new six-part series based on the critically acclaimed, best-selling book of the same name by novelist Sarah Moss (https://amzn.to/3XRu7h1) have also been released.

The six-part drama series has recently finished filming in Scotland, with other cast members including Arnas Fedaravičius (The White Lotus S3, The Last Kingdom), Anna Próchniak (The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Showtrial), Daniel Rigby (Black Mirror, Landscapers) and Gabriel Scott (Masters of the Air, House of The Dragon).

Summerwater has been adapted by screenwriter John Donnelly (The Pass, Utopia, The Assessment) and is directed by Robert McKillop (Guilt, Ludwig) and Fiona Walton (Rebus, Shetland). The series is the debut production from Glasgow headquartered indie, Freedom Scripted.

Set against the backdrop of a remote loch-side Scottish holiday cabin park, Summerwater looks at the simmering tensions between holidaymakers that eventually erupt into a devastating climax.

Weaving together the lives of several families as they navigate unspoken conflicts, private dilemmas, and fleeting moments of beauty from their disparate cabins. The story flashes back to dramatic events in key characters’ lives before their holiday which may have consequences in the present.

Summerwater is produced by Freedom Scripted in association with All3Media International who are the show’s global partner, with the support of Screen Scotland. Mike Ellen is the Executive Producer for Freedom and Jules Hussey (Ralph & Katie, You Don’t Know Me, Guilt) is the Series Producer.

The commissioning editor for Channel 4 is Gemma Boswell.