UK viewers can finally binge 'gripping' Australian thriller series
In 2020 the first season of the psychological thriller series The Secrets She Keeps hit screens.
Based on the book of the same name by acclaimed crime-fiction writer Michael Robotham, it was adapted by Sarah Walker and Jonathan Gavin, the former who worked on shows including Home and Away, Neighbours and All Saints.
Set in Sydney, the series follows two women from 'vastly different backgrounds with explosive secrets that could destroy everything they hold dear'.
It stars Jessica De Gouw (Arrow, Dracula) as Meghan Shaughnessy, who is happily pregnant with her third child. However, her husband Jack (Michael Dorman) is on edge, facing money issues and a stressful job.
Meanwhile Agatha Fyfle (Downton Abbey's Laura Carmichael) is also pregnant, with both women's lives soon colliding.
Sorry, the video was not found
At the time of its release, critics were somewhat unconvinced by the storyline but praised the lead stars' performances.
'Without performances as layered and emotionally sound as the ones Carmichael and De Gouw give, The Secrets She Keeps would be little more than the aforementioned pulpy ride,' Paste Magazine shared.
'The whole thing is held together by Laura Carmichael as Aggie, a compulsive liar played at the screeching end of camp, complete with weird, limp hair and beaky fury,' The Sunday Times wrote.
'The leads bring more than enough credibility to their roles to make the series worth watching,' Decider added.
However, viewers were much more glowing in their reviews.
'It was gripping, and off-the-charts, and more than once, difficult and even stressful to watch. But this is what the best dramas do: they evoke a response from the viewer, and this did that in spades,' user InnerWisdom1000 posted on IMDB.
'Good casting, very entertaining and pretty tense at times. Would definitely recommend,' Laura wrote.
'First episode I wasn't sure, but this series turned into a binge watch for me! Dark, and with some pretty good twists, the story of Agatha and Megan is brilliantly done. Agatha especially gets more and more bonkers in a sinister way,' Juli added.
Although the first season was originally made available on BBC iPlayer, it was later taken down.
But two years after the second season was released, UK fans and those yet to tune in can now watch both in full on Channel 4, where the show has been uploaded this week.
The original novel was inspired by the kidnapping of newborn baby Abbie Sundgren in Nottingham in 1994.
Just three hours after her birth, Abbie was taken by a woman posing as a nurse, who kept her for 17 days.
At the time Michael was working as a journalist in London and covered the story, which he used as the basis of his novel nearly 20 years later. More Trending
'The idea stuck with me and the turning point came when I thought about an added element — what if it wasn't just a random baby that was taken? What if someone had faked a pregnancy and intended to steal a baby …and they had chosen the baby they wanted to steal,' he previously told The West Australian.
While the novel was set in the United Kingdom, the television adaption was set in suburban Sydney — a change the author encouraged.
'When I was approached, I was asked if it was a deal-breaker to me, but it didn't really cross my mind. It is a universal story. The TV series has done an astonishing job and Jess and Laura have done an amazing job playing two women from two different sides of the economic equation … one with a nice husband and a nice house in an expensive neighbourhood, the other, who is living in much poorer circumstances, just trying to get by.'
View More »
The Secrets She Keeps is streaming on Channel 4.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Netflix quietly adds 'superb under-the radar comedy' set in Victorian London
MORE: Gogglebox family announce heartbreaking death as fans pay tribute
MORE: Paddy McGuinness reveals his unexpected celebrity crush 'he wasn't supposed to have'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Neighbours and Coronation Street legends unite for new 'twisted' drama
Neighbours icon Jackie Woodburne is set to join forces with Coronation Street royalty Kym Marsh in a new Channel 5 drama. The prospect of not having Ramsay Street favourite and acting powerhouse Jackie on our screens isn't worth thinking about – and thankfully we don't have to as the Susan Kennedy star is already preparing for her new role just weeks after wrapping production on the Aussie soap for the second time. And as for Kym, who is reportedly stepping away from her Nicky Walters role in Waterloo Road, fans won't have to wait long to see her again. The soap titans have joined the cast of Imposter, a new four-part drama set in Australia that will see a family at war over a hotel when mum Helen refuses to sell up, despite her children demanding that she does so. The soapy plot twists and turns follow, with Helen having had a secret daughter named Amanda, who she gave up for adoption decades earlier. When Amanda unexpectedly shows up, Helen is delighted – but this is the just the beginning of what's set to unfold. The official synopsis tells us: 'The lucrative hotel is the ultimate prize and a twisted scheme soon spirals into betrayal and ultimately, murder.' Consider us intrigued and excited already. The show will be filmed in Victoria, and at the Fremantle Studios in Nunawading this summer. That means that we may well see some familiar Neighbours locations pop up! Just three years ago, Neighbours was axed by Channel 5, though returned to screens in 2023 when Amazon's ad-supported free service Freevee swooped in to rescue it. The daily escapades of Erinsborough residents thrilled fans for another two years before the decision was made by Amazon (in the wake of Freevee's closure) not to renew Neighbours for another season. Production wrapped on the long-running Aussie soap – a staple of daytime TV in the UK for 40 years – earlier this month, with the final episode slated to drop on December 11th. Discussing her time on the serial, Jackie said: 'It's impossible to measure the gratitude I feel for the gift of 30 years on Neighbours. More Trending 'To do so I would have to calculate the number of extraordinary cast and crew I have been privileged to work with, count the number of laughs I have shared with them, measure the pride I feel for the diverse, dramatic (and sometimes outrageous!) storytelling we have all been a part of. 'We are the best version of 'family'. It has been a wild ride into a happy life. [I] wouldn't change it for quids!' View More » This article was originally published on 21st July 2025. If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. MORE: Neighbours legend's new role with major UK TV star confirmed after 31 years as Susan Kennedy MORE: All Neighbours spoilers for next week as character suffers amnesia and 80s legend returns MORE: All Neighbours spoilers for next week as return is confirmed
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Who is Liam Gallagher's fiancée Debbie Gwyther?
Liam and Noel Gallagher have delighted the masses with their epic reunion tour - and a lot of the thanks goes to Liam's partner Debbie Gwyther who reportedly encouraged them to reunite. Oasis have been delighting fans across the nation with their reunion tour, as Noel and Liam Gallagher have come together for one epic return to the stage. The brothers have already performed at Manchester's Heaton Park on Friday 11, Saturday 12 and Wednesday, July 16. They will progress to London's Wembley Stadium, where they are due to appear from tonight, July 25, and then tomorrow, July 26 and 30 and August 2 and 3. Oasis Live' 25 will move on to Edinburgh 's Murrayfield on the weekend of August 8 and 9, and on Tuesday, August 12. The Gallagher brothers will be occupied with the tour until the end of the year, with performances scheduled up to late November. The final night is scheduled for November 23 in Brazil. Not only do they have the unwavering support from their loyal legion of fans, but Liam's fiancée Debbie Gwyther has been a rock to the hitmaker. She's even been credited for the duo coming back together, but who is she? Let's take a closer look at their relationship. 'She was a breath of fresh air' Music manager Debbie, 41, started as Liam's personal assistant in 2013, after working as an artist manager at London firm Quest. The couple started dating following his divorce from All Saints singer Nicole Appleton in 2014. Liam, 52, got down on one knee and popped the question to Debbie in 2019, after five years of dating, on the Amalfi Coast whilst on holiday in Italy with his mum Peggy. Speaking to the Mirror about his fiancée, the singer said: "She was a breath of fresh air, man. She sorted me right out. Me and her like to do the same things, like having a drink. "We like having a laugh. I've met my match, I've met my soulmate. It's good because the kids love her, the lads love her." Gushing over his partner, who Liam said "saved" him from a downward spiral during the bands 15-year hiatus, the singer told Q magazine: "Debbie saved me. No bulls**t. Debbie swooped me up as I was falling, she just said: 'Stop being a d***head'." He explained: "She got me out of the house, introduced me to all kinds of people outside my world, got me doing new things. I've lived in London a long time, but I only really knew Hampstead." Engagement & wedding plans Despite getting engaged in 2019, the pair are yet to walk down the aisle. They have postponed their wedding more than once in the years since. Liam and Debbie planned to return to the romantic country for their big day at Lake Como. However, their wedding plans were put on hold due to the restrictions surrounding the covid pandemic in 2020. The pair then planned their wedding for 2023 but ended up postponing it a second time due to Liam needing to undergo hip surgery. Recently, the couple were reported to be putting their wedding on hold for a third time to make way for the Oasis reunion. Speaking about Debbie in his documentary As It Was, Liam said: "Debbie was the one. She's the one like 'Come on you've not killed anyone, let's get back in the music'." In the 2019 documentary, Debbie added: "Liam just wanted to move abroad somewhere and live a quiet life. I knew that if he did that it would just be temporary anyway, because I knew that he would never be happy unless he was back singing and performing. "Whenever he was off-guard, he would pick up a guitar or he'd be singing. He just starts playing a few chords and then sees what comes out and then works on it from there, record it on his phone. Then most people get to hear it when he's had a drink basically." Oasis delighted fans with the announcement of their comeback in August last year. In October 2024, The Sun reported that Liam and Debbie were focused on the tour rather than their nupitals. However, the publication also stated that the couple are "more than committed" to each other after being happy in a relationship for over a decade now, and aren't concerned about their wedding plans being on hold right now.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Bring Her Back viewers have just made a huge realisation about the cast
The Philippou brothers' new horror hits cinemas today Bring Her Back arrives in UK cinemas today (July 26) and chronicles the grim tale of two siblings who are placed with a foster mother still mourning her own late daughter. Brother duo Danny and Michael Philippou are the masterminds behind the blockbuster, marking their second cinema outing following 2023's smash hit, Talk To Me. Their latest offering was penned simultaneously with their debut and exists within the same fictional world, though it doesn't function as a direct sequel. The ensemble features acting legend Sally Hawkins (Shape of Water) leading the charge, alongside emerging Australian talent Sora Wong and Jonah Wren Phillips (Sweet Tooth), plus Billy Barratt (Kraven the Hunter). Since the Philippou siblings hail from Australia, they habitually locate their productions Down Under and have their performers adopt the local dialect. Yet audiences are only now discovering that two of Bring Her Back's leading stars are actually British. Sally, amongst the most recognisable faces in the line-up, originates from London, whilst Billy, who portrays Andy, is also a Londoner and happens to be the grandson of Welsh musical icon Shakin' Stevens, reports the Mirror. Spectators have been utterly astounded by the duo's authentic Australian pronunciations and flocked to Reddit to express their astonishment after hearing their genuine voices during interviews. "Holy s*** she's [Sally] not Australian? I'm Aussie and she reminded me of so many teachers, social service, councillor types I've known," wrote one viewer. Another commented: "I'm Aussie and her accent was flawless. Absolutely flawless." A third viewer expressed their astonishment, saying: "Sally Hawkins I recognised eventually, never would have known if I hadn't seen her before though. Billy Barratt though, I didn't clock at all. We need to start airlifting their dialect coaches to set whenever a script calls for an Australian character." Another cinema enthusiast chimed in with praise, remarking: "I knew Sally Hawkins was British, but when Billy Barratt spoke in interviews it completely shocked me. His accent was so good." The film's performances have garnered widespread acclaim, particularly Sally's portrayal of foster mum Laura, leaving audiences deeply impressed. During a chat with directors Danny and Michael, Sally opened up about what attracted her to the role. She enthused about the script, saying: "Your writing is so - it's just so real," and "It didn't feel like it was one genre or another, it just feels like really good storytelling." Sally also praised the directors' approach, adding: "It's rare for filmmakers to be that collaborative and free, and I always felt very supported and also trusted with your baby."
