Ever dreamt of hiring an au pair to take care of all your domestic needs? Channel 5's gripping new drama, The Au Pair, is here to make you think twice about it. The disturbing thriller, which sees Poirot's David Suchet return to our screens, delves into the complexities of family, trust and hidden truths - and believe us when say it will have you questioning everything! In fact, it's what we'd call a domestic nightmare.

You may already have guessed that at the centre of the series is an au pair - and not just any au pair. Sandrine (Ludmilla Makowski) is the mysterious young French woman whose arrival in Zoe Dalton's (Sally Bretton) life throws everything into chaos. It's deliciously intriguing and brilliantly twisty - and just what we need to liven up our evenings.

chris (kenny doughty) confronts zoe (sally bretton) outside the muse house
Bernard Walsh

While we await its arrival on our screens, here's everything you need to know about the new Channel 5 drama, including the plot, cast and release date...

What to read next

What's the plot of The Au Pair?

Over the course of four episodes, The Au Pair follows Zoe Dalton (Sally Bretton), who seems to have it all: a successful tailoring business, a wonderful husband Chris (Kenny Doughty), two gorgeous stepchildren, Amber and Noah, and a beautiful home in a picturesque English town. However, "seems" is the key word here.

Beneath the façade, Zoe is experiencing marital issues and things get even more difficult when her diabetic father, George (David Suchet), moves in next door. The solution? To hire an au pair, who arrives in the form of Sandrine (Ludmilla Makowski).

(ludmilla makowski) interrupts amber (margot pue) and raye, (ebimie anthony) congratulates raye on the pregnancy behind a veiled threat
Bernard Walsh

Sandrine is a beguiling young French woman, and she triggers an unsettling shift in the household. No spoilers, but according to the official synopsis, "instincts and suspicions arise, hinting at hidden agendas and long-concealed truths."

The series marks David Suchet’s first TV acting job since 2018’s Press, which aired on BBC One, and we can see why the Poirot star might have been compelled to return by this particular show. In a recent Radio Times interview, he described the series as "a real page-turner. Other roles I was offered were nice, but repetitious and not quite challenging enough."

David, we're glad to have you back!

Who's starring in The Au Pair?

l r george (david suchet) noah (ripley barden) zoe (sally bretton) and chris (kenny doughty)zoe, chris, and noah bring out amber's birthday cake
Bernard Walsh

The cast of The Au Pair includes:

  • Sir David Suchet (Poirot)
  • Sally Bretton (Beyond Paradise, Not Going Out)
  • Kenny Doughty (Vera, Stella)
  • Ludmilla Makowski (Anthracite, Lupin)

How can I watch The Au Pair?

Good news - we're just days away from The Au Pair arriving on our screens. The series will premiere on Channel 5 at 9pm on Monday 10th March.