Normal People star Paul Mescal to feature in new show by Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee

Pictured: (L-R) Emily Reid as Ophelia, Emmett Scanlan as Michael and Catherine Walker as Roisin in The Deceived.

The Deceived is a four part drama filmed in Northern Ireland and Cambridge and will be shown on Channel 5 later this year, with dates yet to be confirmed.

The thriller was created and written by Lisa and Tobias Beer and will also air on Virgin Media TV in the south.

The show is described as a compelling and sinister narrative of lust, manipulation and betrayal. It is being produced by New Pictures, the production house behind ‘The Missing’ and ‘Catherine The Great’.

The central character is English student Ophelia (played by Emily Reid), who falls in love with her married lecturer, seeing in him all the answers to her needs. When their affair is interrupted by a shocking and tragic death, Ophelia finds herself trapped in a world where she can no longer trust her own mind.

The cast includes Emmett J. Scanlan, who has previously appeared in Gangs of London, Peaky Blinders and The Fall, and Paul Mescal, who has shot to fame thanks to his recent role in the BBC adaption of ‘Normal People’.

The cast will also feature Derry Girls’ star Ian McElhinney.

Executive producer Charlie Hampton of New Pictures said he was “absolutely delighted to bring Lisa and Toby’s fantastic scripts to screen”.

“Working with such talented writers is always a pleasure and it was important to find equally talented people for both in front of and behind the camera,” he said, adding:

“Along with our wonderful director, Chloë Thomas, we were lucky to assemble a hugely gifted cast who added a whole other layer of intrigue into the already thrilling scripts.

“We wanted to make a show that nods to classic thrillers but also make something really modern that speaks to a contemporary audience. The Deceived is a psychological relationship thriller that will have the audience questioning everything and will hopefully leave them wanting more.”

The Deceived is directed by Chloë Thomas (Harlots, Victoria), produced by Imogen O’Sullivan and executive produced by Charlie Hampton (The Spanish Princess), Charlie Pattinson (Catherine the Great, The Missing), Lisa McGee and Tobias Beer.

Lisa McGee took to Twitter last week to share a trailer for the show which is scheduled to air next month.

She has previously said that the idea for The Deceived came before Derry Girls, but the couple were both working on other projects at the same time.