"A night terror come true”: Vicky McClure’s Insomnia is the “creepy” psychological drama coming to Channel 5

When it comes to TV dramas, Vicky McClure can do no wrong and her Paramount+ series, Insomnia, is proof. The creepy psychological drama made its debut on the streamer last year and now, it’s finally coming to Channel 5. The Line of Duty star plays a successful lawyer whose night terror comes true – or does it?

You see, Emma (McClure) fears she’s losing her mind when she experiences sleep deprivation and disturbing after-dark behaviour scarily similar to her mother's - who suffered a psychotic breakdown. Based on Sarah Pinborough's novel of the same name, Emma’s perfect life quickly unravels, leaving her questioning what’s real and what’s not.

Ahead of Insomnia’s imminent arrival on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about your next binge-watch, including the plot, cast and when you can watch it on Channel 5.

What is Insomnia about?

The six-part series is an adaptation of the 2022 novel of the same name by bestselling author Sarah Pinborough. Line of Duty's Vicky McClure serves as Executive Producer in addition to leading the cast as successful career woman Emma Averill, who fears she might be losing her mind, when the dream life she’s fought so hard for starts to turn into a nightmare.

A couple of weeks before her 40th birthday, Emma stops sleeping — the same way her mother did just before she suffered a violent psychotic breakdown on the night of her own 40^th birthday. To make matters worse, Emma’s mother always told her daughter the same thing would happen to her, that she had the same “bad blood” - and now Emma is terrified it’s true.

According to the official synopsis, “As events worsen, Emma’s world starts to unravel and she realises that only by investigating the truth of her painful past, can she find the answers to her present and prevent tragedy from striking a second time?”

Vicky has described the series as “a very different role for me” and called it “such an exciting script”. We can confirm it’s exciting – but it’s also incredibly creepy, dark and it will absorb every bit of your attention!

Who's in the cast of Insomnia?

The cast of Insomnia includes:

• Vicky McClure (Line of Duty, Trigger Point)
• Tom Cullen (The Gold) as Robert
• Smylie Bradwell (Wisting) as Will
• India Fowler (The Nevers) as Chloe
• Leanne Best (The Bay) as Phoebe
• Corinna Marlowe (Hysteria) as Patricia
• Lyndsey Marshal (Restless) as Caroline
• Dominic Tighe (Suspicion) as Julian
• Jade Harrison (Wedding Season) as Michelle
• Robert Gilbert (Killing Eve) as Faisal
• Michelle Bonnard (Unforgotten) as D.I Hildreth

Is Insomnia any good?

Yes – it received mixed reviews when it was released on Paramount+, but f you’re looking for a series you don’t have to think too hard about but is still a brilliant watch, this is it. Vicky McClure is truly brilliant as a woman on the edge and makes you feel every ounce of her desperation.

How can I watch Insomnia?

Good news – there’s not long to wait until Insomnia arrives on Channel 5! It will hit screens on Sunday 6^th July at 9pm, with the first three episodes airing consecutively from Sunday to Tuesday. The following three will air the week later. Happy binge-watching!

What else can I watch Vicky McClure in?

Very excitingly, Vicky is returning to our screens this autumn in a second series of ITV’s Trigger Point. You can read all about it here. We’d also recommend catching up on ITV’s Without Sin, a psychological thriller about a grieving mother whose life becomes entangled with her daughter's killer. And when you're finished? There’s Line of Duty, of course. We’re still waiting for (see also: longing for) more news about the 7^th series, but all 6 series are currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.