Sweetpea (TV series)

After enduring bullying during her school years, Rhiannon Lewis is an unassuming young woman who lives with her father and dog in the fictional English town of Carnsham, where she works a mundane job as an administrative assistant at a local newspaper. However, following her father's death, her life is upended by a series of unfortunate events, including the return of her former bully, leading Rhiannon to develop a penchant for murder.

• Ella Purnell as Rhiannon Lewis, an administrative assistant working at the Carnsham Gazette, often called "Sweetpea" by her boss
• Nicôle Lecky as Julia Blenkingsopp, a classmate from Rhiannon's school years, who is now a local estate agent
• Jon Pointing as Craig, an employee at Rhiannon's father's construction company who ghosted her after their one-night stand
• Calam Lynch as AJ Pierce, the new junior reporter at the Carnsham Gazette
• Jeremy Swift as Norman, the editor of the Carnsham Gazette and Rhiannon's boss
• Dustin Demri-Burns as Jeff Barker, a senior reporter at the Carnsham Gazette
• Leah Harvey as Marina Farrar, a junior detective working for the local police force
• Camille Coduri as Carol on Tuesdays, the hostess at the local pub

• Dino Kelly as Marcus, Julia's fiancé
• Nitin Ganatra as Rory, a detective working with Marina
• Ingrid Oliver as Diana St John, a Detective Inspector at the local police force

• David Bark-Jones as Tommy, Rhiannon and Seren's father, and owner of the construction firm Tommy's Transformations
• Luke McGibney as Mike Roberts, an obnoxious man who crosses paths with Rhiannon
• Alexandra Dowling as Seren, Rhiannon's older sister who lives in France
• James Craze as Ryan Lloyd, a man who disrespects Rhiannon

{{Episode table |background=#CF7AA9 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes={{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Sorry for Your Loss

|DirectedBy = Ella Jones

|WrittenBy = Kirstie Swain

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|10|10|df=yes}}

|ShortSummary = Rhiannon Lewis is a downtrodden wallflower who works as a receptionist at the Carnsham Gazette and has felt invisible most of her life. She developed trichotillomania due to years of school bullying by queen bee Julia Blenkingsopp, and occasionally entertains murderous thoughts. Her father Tommy, the only person who recognises her attributes and encourages her to stand up for herself, dies while hospitalised, leaving Rhiannon bereft. Subsequently, Rhiannon suffers a series of mishaps—she is passed over for a promotion at work by her boss Norman in favour of new reporter AJ Pierce, whom she sees as a nepotism hire; her estranged sister Seren plans to sell their family home and hires Julia, now an estate agent who has moved back to town, to handle the property sale; and when a billboard for Julia's business distracts Rhiannon, her dog Tink is killed by an oncoming car. Angry and drunk, Rhiannon confronts Julia at a nightclub but is rudely rebuffed. At a nearby canal, a man drunkenly urinates on Rhiannon, claiming he had not seen her. Reaching her breaking point, she murders the man with her father's pocketknife and pushes his body into the canal, which boosts her self-confidence.

|LineColor = CF7AA9

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = This Sort of Thing Needs Some Feminine Energy

|DirectedBy = Ella Jones

|WrittenBy = Kirstie Swain & Krissie Ducker

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|10|10|df=yes}}

|ShortSummary = One of Tommy's employees, Craig, gives Rhiannon an offer to buy her father's business. After the police find the dead body of Rhiannon's victim, she receives a call from Jeff Barker, a senior reporter at the Gazette, who has identified the man as Ryan Lloyd. To outsmart Jeff, Rhiannon persuades Norman to send her and AJ to secure a statement from Ryan's family. Ryan's mother claims that he was the perfect son, but Rhiannon sneaks into his bedroom and discovers a restraining order filed against him by a former co-worker, Dave Ferris, who tells Rhiannon and AJ that Ryan constantly bullied him. Julia visits Rhiannon's house for a valuation. Rhiannon convinces Norman to publish the story of Ryan being a bully and for the first time is invited for drinks at the local pub. There, she is startled when the police arrive to investigate Ryan's murder. Rhiannon recognises a man who made a scene at the hospital, which prevented a nurse from attending to her dying father. She follows him out to an alley and stabs him to death. On her way home, Rhiannon stares at a poster of Julia and muses about killing her.

|LineColor = CF7AA9

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Black Spots in the Garage

|DirectedBy = Ella Jones

|WrittenBy = Kirstie Swain & Krissie Ducker

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|10|10|df=yes}}

|ShortSummary = Rhiannon prepares to murder Julia, and spikes Jeff's coffee with milk of magnesia after discovering she has not received credit for the Ryan Lloyd story. Ryan's mother storms into the Gazette offices and accuses Rhiannon and AJ of betraying her trust, but Rhiannon insists that Ryan was a bully. Rhiannon and Craig have dinner together and eventually have sex. Detectives Marina and Rory bring Rhiannon in for questioning, as she was at a nearby nightclub on the night of Ryan's murder. Rhiannon claims she was at the nightclub with friends, naming Julia as one of them. The body of Rhiannon's second murder victim is found. Rhiannon surprises Craig at Tommy's Transformations, only to find him with Julia, who plans to buy Rhiannon's house and flip it. Enraged, Rhiannon secretly steals Julia's phone and slashes one of her tyres. Rhiannon later offers Julia a ride home, but instead drives Julia to her own house, claiming there is mould in the garage. There, Rhiannon pulls out her pocketknife and confesses to murdering the two men, before demanding an apology from Julia. After a brief struggle, Julia attempts to flee but slips and falls before Rhiannon knocks her out.

|LineColor = CF7AA9

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Everybody Loves Julia

|DirectedBy = Ella Jones

|WrittenBy = Laura Jayne Tunbridge

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|10|10|df=yes}}

|ShortSummary = Rhiannon ties Julia up in her garage but fails to kill her after she asserts that Rhiannon is responsible for her own unhappiness. At Tommy's Transformations, Rhiannon seduces Craig before stealing the flash drive with the CCTV footage from the previous night. Rhiannon convinces Norman to give her a chance as a junior reporter by writing an article on Julia's disappearance. Marina reviews footage of the nightclub from the night of Ryan's murder and sees Rhiannon arguing with Julia. Rhiannon interviews Julia's fiancé Marcus at the couple's home, where she secretly vandalises a couch and steals some items. Rhiannon publishes her article in the Gazette, finally earning a byline. AJ takes Rhiannon out on a date at the pub, but he leaves when Craig arrives and mentions he has been having sex with Rhiannon. She finds a drunk Marcus, rambling about how Julia has disappeared before, and drives him home. After going through Marcus's text messages to Julia, Rhiannon heads home and confronts Julia with the texts, in which Marcus threatens suicide and accuses Julia of being abusive. Julia breaks down in tears and declares that Marcus is a monster, leaving Rhiannon stunned.

|LineColor = CF7AA9

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Someone's Been a Naughty Girl

|DirectedBy = Ella Jones

|WrittenBy = Selina Lim

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|10|10|df=yes}}

|ShortSummary = Julia apologises to Rhiannon for bullying her at school. Suspecting that Rhiannon is the killer, Marina discovers Julia's car at Tommy's Transformations and finds the CCTV footage missing. Rhiannon convinces Craig to keep quiet about her visit to Tommy's Transformations on the night of Julia's disappearance. At Julia's search party, Marina learns about Rhiannon and Julia's history, and Marcus threatens to get Rhiannon fired for vandalising his house. Rhiannon follows Marcus, intending to kill him, until Jeff spots her and realises she is the killer. Rhiannon chases Jeff, who is killed by oncoming traffic. After Marcus threatens Rhiannon via text message, she and Julia conspire to frame him for the murders and Julia's kidnapping. Their plan unfolds at Julia and Marcus's unfinished house. When they trip the alarm, Marcus arrives before Julia, who is tied to a radiator, gets him to use the pocketknife to free her while Rhiannon hides and calls the police. As Marcus turns violent, accusing Julia of having sex with her kidnapper, Rhiannon intervenes, and Julia declares she is leaving Marcus. When he threatens to jump from a balcony, Rhiannon pushes him to his death shortly before the police arrive.

|LineColor = CF7AA9

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Life 2.0

|DirectedBy = Ella Jones

|WrittenBy = Krissie Ducker

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|10|10|df=yes}}

|ShortSummary = As the police interrogate Rhiannon and Julia separately, both women maintain that Marcus murdered the two men and kidnapped Julia. Marina accuses Rhiannon of being the real killer but is reprimanded by the DI. Rhiannon and Julia celebrate their freedom at a nightclub, where Julia borrows Rhiannon's bank card to buy drugs. Marina breaks into Rhiannon's house and finds the CCTV footage showing Rhiannon slashing Julia's car tyre. Confronted by Marina, Rhiannon points out that the footage was obtained illegally. Julia agrees to recount her kidnapping to the Gazette, creating tension between her and Rhiannon. Rhiannon breaks up with Craig, who blackmails her into selling Tommy's Transformations to him in exchange for his silence. That night, AJ visits Rhiannon and they have sex. The next morning, Rhiannon receives a notification from British Airways informing her of a £474 charge and leaves Julia a voicemail asking if she still has her bank card. AJ receives an exclusive police photo of the murder weapon, which he recognises as Rhiannon's pocketknife. After Rhiannon confesses everything, AJ calls her a monster and tries to leave, prompting her to fatally stab him. As AJ dies in Rhiannon's arms, Seren arrives at the doorstep.

|LineColor = CF7AA9

}}

}}

Skuse's 2017 novel was optioned in 2017 by See-Saw Films. In 2019, Sky Atlantic came onboard the project and Patrick Walters, Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman were set as executive producer for See-Saw Films, with Liz Lewin as an executive producer for Sky Studios.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/top-of-the-lake-producer-see-saw-films-to-adapt-c-j-skuse-novel-sweetpea-for-sky-atlantic-with-pure-writer-kirstie-swain-1202772372/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=17 November 2023|title= 'Top Of The Lake' Producer See-Saw Films Adapting 'American Psycho'-Meets-'Fleabag' Novel 'Sweetpea' For Sky Atlantic With 'Pure' Writer Kirstie Swain|first=Peter|last=White|date=12 February 2020}} Kirstie Swain has adapted the book.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/drama/kirstie-swain-i-like-to-write-about-people-who-have-wronged-me/5149682.article|magazine=Broadcast|access-date=17 November 2023|title= Kirstie Swain: I like to write about people who have wronged me|first=Jesse|last=Whittock|date=8 May 2020}} In 2020, it was revealed to be a six-part series.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/uk-pay-tv-broadcaster-sky-unveils-six-new-shows-for-2020-including-see-saws-sweetpea/5147133.article|website=Screen Daily|access-date=17 November 2023|title=UK pay-TV broadcaster Sky unveils six new shows for 2020, including See-Saw's 'Sweetpea'|first=Alex|last=Farber|date=13 February 2020|url-access=limited|archive-date=24 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224023439/https://www.screendaily.com/news/uk-pay-tv-broadcaster-sky-unveils-six-new-shows-for-2020-including-see-saws-sweetpea/5147133.article|url-status=live}}

On 3 December 2024, Sweetpea was renewed for a second series.{{cite magazine|last=Szalai|first=George|title=Sweetpea, Starring Ella Purnell, to Return for Second Season|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/ella-purnell-sweetpea-season-2-starz-sky-1236075449/|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|date=3 December 2024|access-date=3 December 2024}}

In November 2023, Ella Purnell was cast in the lead role and serves as an executive producer. Also cast were Nicôle Lecky, Jon Pointing, Calam Lynch, Leah Harvey, Jeremy Swift, Dustin Demri-Burns, Luke McGibney and Ingrid Oliver.{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|access-date=30 November 2023|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/ella-purnell-sky-sweetpea-nicole-lecky-1235812341|date= 29 November 2023|title=Ella Purnell to Executive Produce, Star in Sky's 'Sweetpea' With Nicôle Lecky, Jon Pointing, Calam Lynch, Leah Harvey, (EXCLUSIVE)|first=Naman |last=Ramachandran}}{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Taylor|date=4 October 2024|website=WalesOnline|title=Sweetpea: Release date, cast and plot of new Ella Purnell series on Sky|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/sweetpea-sky-cast-plot-date-30071011.amp|access-date=11 October 2024}}

Filming took place in Southend-on-Sea in November and December 2023, with filming locations including Southend Observation Tower on Pier Hill, Western Esplanade's Cliff Lift and theme park Adventure Island.{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23929496.sky-atlantic-sweetpea-southend-turns-film-set-show/|first=Ethan|last=Banks|newspaper=The Echo|access-date=17 November 2023|title=Sky Atlantic Sweetpea: Southend turns into film set for show|date=17 November 2023|archive-date=17 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117102517/http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23929496.sky-atlantic-sweetpea-southend-turns-film-set-show/|url-status=live}} Filming also took place near the River Colne in Oxhey Park, Watford.{{cite news|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/leisure/24643219.sky-tvs-sweetpea-scenes-shot-river-colne-oxhey-park/|newspaper=Watford Observer|access-date=12 October 2024|title= Sky TV's Sweetpea scenes shot by River Colne in Oxhey Park |first=Fintan|last=McGuinness|date=10 October 2024}}

The title sequence was created by London-based Peter Anderson Studio. it was designed to visually explore the lead character's psychological state, utilising brutalist painting aesthetics and painterly compositions. The sequence features neon lights on rain-soaked streets and transforms everyday objects into symbols of violence, reflecting the duality of her existence. A bespoke typeface, with a hand-drawn aesthetic, contributes to the gritty tone whilst the sharp extensions in the typeface used in the title card were added to enhance the ominous atmosphere.{{Cite web |title=Sweetpea Title Seqeunce |url=https://www.peterandersonstudio.co.uk/projects/sweetpea-title-seqeunce |access-date=17 October 2024 |website=Peter Anderson Studio}}

The series premiered on 10 October 2024 on Sky Atlantic and Now in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://her.ie/entertainment/skys-sweetpea-is-the-show-thats-going-to-be-your-next-tv-obsession-499133|website=Her.ie|access-date=17 November 2023|date=13 February 2020|title=Sky Atlantic's Sweetpea is the show that's going to be your next TV obsession|first=Keeley|last=Ryan|archive-date=17 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117155451/https://her.ie/entertainment/skys-sweetpea-is-the-show-thats-going-to-be-your-next-tv-obsession-499133|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a61578487/ella-purnell-sweetpea-first-look/|website=Digital Spy|access-date=12 July 2024|title=Ella Purnell in first look at new twisted 'rage' series|first=Laura|last=Jane Turner|date=12 July 2024|archive-date=12 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712131923/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a61578487/ella-purnell-sweetpea-first-look/|url-status=live}} Ahead of the series premiere, a full trailer was revealed in September 2024.{{Cite website|url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/sweetpea-premiere-date-october-10-sky-starz-ella-purnell-1236093921/|title=Sky & Starz Reveal Premiere Date For 'Sweetpea' Series Starring Ella Purnell|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Max|last=Goldbart|date=19 September 2024|access-date=19 September 2024}}

== Reception ==

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Sweetpea holds an approval rating of 85% based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Ella Purnell is a diabolical delight in Sweetpea, a revenge fantasy that holds a lot of darkness beneath its playful exterior."{{cite rt|id=sweetpea|type=tv|season=1|access-date=26 October 2024|publisher_hide=y}} Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 69 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite mc|id=sweetpea|type=tv|season=1|access-date=18 October 2024|publisher_hide=y}}

Lucy Mangan, writing in The Guardian, was less impressed, comparing the series unfavourably to the original book.{{Cite news |last=Mangan |first=Lucy |date=10 October 2024 |title=Sweetpea review – Ella Purnell's deathly dull serial killer show reeks of cowardly decision-making |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/oct/10/sweetpea-review-ella-purnells-deathly-dull-serial-killer-show-reeks-of-cowardly-decision-making |access-date=13 October 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian |quote=This insipid, humourless adaptation of CJ Skuse's blackly comic Sweetpea books has been stripped of everything good. It seems to drag on forever.}}

== Soundtrack ==

The series score was written by Isobel Waller-Bridge and the theme song ("Do You See Me Now") by Isobel and British artist Chinchilla, who also provided the vocals.{{Cite magazine |last=Brooks |first=Lian |date=14 October 2024 |title=Sweetpea soundtrack in full, including the addictive opening song |url=https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/sweetpea-soundtrack-songs |access-date=15 October 2024 |magazine=Glamour UK}}

In addition, the series features a diverse soundtrack of popular music, including tracks from Billie Eilish, Icona Pop/Charli XCX, Labi Siffre and the Spice Girls.{{Cite magazine |last=Pilley |first=Max |date=12 October 2024 |title=Here's every song on the 'Sweetpea' soundtrack |url=https://www.nme.com/news/tv/heres-every-song-on-the-sweetpea-soundtrack-3802076 |access-date=15 October 2024 |magazine=NME |archive-date=27 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127111621/https://www.nme.com/news/tv/heres-every-song-on-the-sweetpea-soundtrack-3802076 |url-status=live}}

{{Reflist}}

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{{Sky Atlantic}}

Category:2020s British black comedy television series

Category:2020s British comedy-drama television series

Category:2020s British workplace comedy television series

Category:2020s British workplace drama television series

Category:2024 British television series debuts

Category:British English-language television shows

Category:British thriller television series

Category:Sky Atlantic original programming

Category:Sky UK comedy-dramas

Category:Television series about fictional serial killers

Category:Television series about revenge

Category:Television series about school bullying

Category:Television shows based on British novels

Category:Television shows filmed in England

Category:Television shows set in England

Category:Works about newspaper publishing