Rivals star and Pride & Prejudice icon confirmed for new ‘propulsive lunar thriller’ series

Alex Hassell and Jennifer Ehle are the latest actors to join the cast of ITV’s new space thriller, First Woman. The show centers around a mysterious disappearance that happens on the Moon.

The story follows Claire Reith, a biologist and the first woman to walk on the moon as part of a revolutionary research mission. When she goes missing, suspicion falls on both her fellow astronauts and a competing Chinese lunar base.

After his wife vanishes, Ben (Ashley Walters) must race against the distance – and the mystery – to find out what really happened to her.

The story cuts back and forth between mission control in the UK and the moon, creating a tense, fast-paced situation. The astronauts are facing mounting pressure, and Ben desperately hopes to be reunited with his wife.

“But how well can two people really know each other?”

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Rising star Hassell will play Christopher Scott, the UK’s Prime Minister – a character described as polished, pragmatic, and disciplined. Jennifer Ehle, known for her role in Pride and Prejudice, will portray Helen Sadler, an investigator with the Space Flight Authority.

Helen is especially worried about the idea that Claire intentionally abandoned her lunar module before she went missing, because she believes Mission Control is covering up the truth.

As these serious events develop, Prime Minister Scott faces a fight to save his political career and may resort to extreme actions, possibly motivated by his own personal goals.

The cast of the new, imaginative series also includes First Woman actors Riseborough, known for ‘Alice & Jack,’ and Walters, from ‘Adolescence.’ Lydia Yeoman, who worked on ‘Curfew,’ created and wrote the series, and Philip Martin, whose credits include ‘Scoop’ and ‘The Crown,’ directed it.

The commission was announced last week and filming is currently taking place in Belfast.

Riseborough shared that growing up, she was fascinated by space – the emptiness, the stars, and the sense of wonder it inspired, something poets often tried to capture in their writing.

I couldn’t ask for a more supportive, daring, and courageous team than Philip and Ashley as we begin this new adventure. I truly hope it will be captivating for everyone who chooses to join us, and I’m incredibly excited to start!

Walters expressed their excitement about joining the show, calling it a thrilling and innovative drama. They’ve long admired the team and are drawn to projects that spark conversation and encourage new perspectives, and this one definitely delivers on that.

First Woman is coming soon to ITV.

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Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV and streaming dramas and comedies for TopMob. Before that, he contributed to Starburst Magazine, hosted the podcast ‘The Winter King’ for ITVX, and earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-04-30 20:06