Adolescence writer reveals true story inspiration behind Falling with Keeley Hawes and Harry Potter’s Paapa Essiedu

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Channel 4’s new drama, Falling, explores the complicated relationship that develops when a nun and a Catholic priest find themselves falling in love. It’s described as a modern romance that tackles a challenging situation.

This six-episode drama, from the writer of Adolescence, Jack Thorne, features Keeley Hawes and Paapa Essiedu as two dedicated individuals deeply involved in their church and local community, who find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other.

The story follows both characters as they grapple with the implications for themselves, their commitments to each other, and their faith.

Before the show’s release, Thorne explained that while ‘Falling’ is mostly made up, the initial concept was inspired by a true story.

George Faber, a friend and frequent collaborator of mine (he’s also an executive producer on ‘Falling’), shared an article with me about a nun who fell in love with a priest.

We didn’t incorporate any of those specific details into ‘Falling,’ but we were intrigued by the themes of faith and love and felt they could form the basis of a unique story.

Thorne explained that finding the right balance between faith and love was the hardest part of writing the series. He did a lot of research, talking to many people to get it right.

I’ll never forget a priest telling me that everyone struggles with prayer. He explained that prayer is the most important part of being a priest or nun – it’s what we’re meant to do, and help others do as well. While getting the specifics right matters, understanding the core principles – prayer, conversation, and reflection – is what truly captures the heart of the role.

It was crucial that these individuals were deeply committed to their lives and the decisions they made, and that spirituality remained a significant part of their stories.

Thorne highlighted a powerful moment where David brings his hesitant daughter to say goodbye to her mother. He emphasized that this wasn’t a religious ceremony, but a final expression of love.

Thorne explained that he wanted to really explore the church and its value to society, and ideally showcase that. He was particularly pleased to hear that viewers felt the program highlighted the importance of community, saying that would be a great outcome.

Hawes was attracted to the film both as a love story and because it was a new genre for Jack, who had never written one before. She particularly admired his script, describing it as beautifully observed, realistic, and deeply touching.

“He has created something very special.”

As Essiedu points out, don’t anticipate grand displays or dramatic announcements. Instead, expect subtle moments and connections that resonate and grow in significance.

He agreed, saying that this often happens in real life. When we fall in love, we can usually pinpoint a specific moment when our feelings – and even our brain chemistry – shifted.

“That’s what happens between David and Anna in the first episode.”

Like Thorne, Essiedu also carried out his own research to help him better understand his character.

During my interviews, one priest really struck me with his words. He described his relationship with faith in a profoundly personal way, telling me, ‘I’m married to God — that is my partner.’ It was a surprisingly intimate and revealing statement, and it really stuck with me.

Feeling attracted to someone other than my partner feels like a betrayal, even though I also believe that loving another person can be a way of expressing love for God.

“It’s a complex, knotty and hopefully dramatic situation.”

Falling premieres on Channel 4 on Tuesday 19 May at 9pm.

Authors

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor at TopMob, where she writes about TV dramas and comedies. Before that, she was a TV writer for Digital Spy and a content writer for Mumsnet. She has a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.

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2026-05-19 21:34