“A creepy gaslighting story”: The Ex-Wife is the “twisty” domestic thriller that’ll test your nerves

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, you may already have binged the first series of Paramount+’s twisty domestic series The Ex-Wife. If not, it’s time to catch up as the creepy gaslighting story is about to return for a second series - and it will seriously test your nerves.

When the thriller first aired in 2022, it captivated audiences with its nail-biting story of a woman gaslit into believing her husband’s ex-wife was out to get her. Only it transpired she had a very different motive – and her husband wasn’t exactly the perfect partner he appeared to be.

With a second brilliantly compelling series arriving on our screens this week, here’s everything you need to know about what’s in store, including the plot, cast and how you can watch it.

What is The Ex-Wife about?

The first series of the psychological thriller was based on Jess Ryder’s 2022 novel of the same name and introduced us to Tasha (Celine Buckens), who had the perfect house, a wonderful husband, Jack (Tom Milson) and a beautiful young daughter. So far, so idyllic.

Only Tasha’s husband's ex-wife, Jen (Janet Montgomery) simply wouldn’t leave them alone. Or so it seemed. As the plot unfolded, so too did a huge – and rather terrifying - web of lies. We won’t share any spoilers (though be warned: you’ll find a couple in the series 2 synopsis below), but let’s just say Jen may not have been the real villain after all.

What will happen in The Ex-Wife series 2?

With series 1 having covered the entirety of Jess’s novel, series 2 will be an original story that features the same characters. The new four-parter will pick up three years after the conclusion of series 1. Tasha (Celine Buckens) is now hiding in Cyprus with her daughter Emily (Liberty Miller), while Jen (now played by Katie McGrath) has officially moved on and is getting ready to walk down the aisle for a second time.

According to the official synopsis, "Living under false identities, Tasha has started a new life for herself and Emily. However, Tasha is forced to abandon her fresh start when she learns that Jack has been released from prison early – having only served a year of his sentence.

"Jack appears to be a changed man, grieving the death of his daughter and searching for redemption from a newly engaged Jen. With the shadow of the past haunting all three characters, attempts at moving on only bring them closer together, but who can each of them really trust, and can anyone truly change?"

Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer at Paramount UK has promised viewers "even more twists and turns", while Executive Producer and MD for co-producer Clapperboard Studios Mike Benson says series 2 "builds on the intrigue and emotional complexity" of series 1, but also takes us somewhere "unexpected and surprising".

He says: "With the wonderful Celine, Tom and Jordan returning – and the fantastic Katie McGrath joining the cast – we’re looking forward to seeing how they, and our brilliant production team, tackle the story."

Who’s starring in The Ex-Wife series 2?

The cast of The Ex-Wife series 2 includes:

• Katie McGrath (Merlin) as Jen
• Celine Buckens (Showtrial) as Tasha
• Tom Mison (One Day) as Jack
• Jordan Stephens (Glue) as Sam
• Liberty Miller (Malpractice) as Emily

Is The Ex-Wife any good?

If you enjoy a psychological thriller that’s packed with plot twists, The Ex-Wife is brilliant viewing. It’s dark and dramatic with plenty of spine-tingling moments, plus there’s a rather impressive Grand Designs-esque family home at the centre of it, which is well worth a peek inside.

How can I watch The Ex-Wife series 2?

All four episodes of The Ex-Wife series 2 will be available to watch on Thursday 10^th April on Paramount+ UK. If you haven’t yet watched series 1, you can catch up on all four episodes here.