Number One Fan on 5: Crime drama queens Sally Lindsay and Jill Halfpenny unite in 'tense psychological thriller'
The upcoming series is set in the high‑pressure world of celebrity
Number One Fan is the latest twisty thriller coming in 2026, and it is already promising to be the chef’s kiss of Channel 5 series.
For starters, crime drama queens Sally Lindsay and Jill Halfpenny will appear together in their first ever collaboration. Secondly, the plot sounds totally bingeable. And, lastly, it is set in the high‑pressure world of celebrity. That’s a triple threat, right there.
And we’re just about ready for something to fill the Missed Call-shaped hole in our lives. Here’s everything you need to know about Number One Fan on Channel 5, including start date, number of episodes, cast, and plot.
What is the plot of Number One Fan on Channel 5?
Described as a “tense psychological thriller”, Channel 5’s Number One Fan is set in the high‑pressure world of celebrity.
A synopsis for the much-anticipated drama tells us: “When a beloved TV presenter’s seemingly perfect life is disrupted by a chance encounter with an adoring fan, admiration slowly turns into something far more unsettling.
“As the spotlight intensifies and trust begins to fracture, fame becomes a dangerous place to hide… And the line between fan and foe starts to blur with devastating consequences. To her horror, Lucy comes to realise that Donna has a link to a hidden secret in her past which threatens to derail the career she has so carefully curated.”
This is for those of you who enjoyed The Replacement, starring Morven Christie as a pregnant architect who suspects her maternity cover (Vicky McClure) is trying to steal her life. Also for fans of thriller The Night Caller, about a lonely cab driver’s growing obsession with a radio DJ.
How many episodes is it?
Number One Fan on Channel 5 will be four episodes long, of one hour each (including ads). The episodes will be stripped across the week from Monday to Thursday.
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In episode one, viewers will meet Lucy Logan, described as the hottest TV star in the country. With a hit morning show, huge following on social media, and a gorgeous family, her life appears to be perfect. Until, that is, she meets Donna Harvey.
When a mugger swipes Lucy’s handbag as she walks through a car park, Donna intervenes to save the day. Turns out, Donna is Lucy’s biggest fan and a grateful Lucy invites her to visit her on set of her show. Big mistake.
Lucy thinks that’s the end of it. But, wherever Lucy goes, Donna’s there too. And soon the Number One Fan turns sinister.
When is Number One Fan next on Channel 5?
The upcoming thriller Number One Fan is starting on Monday, May 04, 2026 at 9pm on Channel 5 .
The four-part series will be stripped across the week, from Monday to Thursday. The final episode will air on Thursday, May 07, 2026.
All episodes will be available on 5 streaming after episode 1.
Who is in the cast?
Jill Halfpenny plays morning TV presenter Lucy, aka the nation’s sweetheart, and presenter of ‘Lucy Live’. She tells it like it is with a big smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. She’s ambitious, hardworking and beneath it all, thoroughly ruthless. Of course, soap fans will know Jill as Kate Mitchell in EastEnders, but more recently she’s carved herself quite the career in crime dramas and cosy crimes like After the Flood, The Feud, and Girl Taken.
Sally Lindsay portrays Donna, an obsessed fan who appears as a mousey, non-threatening nobody. But steps in to save Lucy from a horrific attack. However, Lucy’s gratitude quickly sours when Donna’s fandom turns into a darker obsession infiltrating Lucy’s whole life.
Like Jill, Sally made her name in soaps, playing Shelley Unwin in Corrie. Following a similar career path to Jill, Sally has also appeared in cosy crimes like Love Rat, and Intruder. But she is arguably most famous for playing Jean in The Madame Blanc Mysteries.
The ensemble cast also includes:
- Sanctuary’s Daniel Adegboyega as Shawn Logan.
- Emmerdale’s Dean Andrews as Stewart Jones.
- Waterloo Road’s Sharlene Whyte as Mel.
- Newcomer Harvey Rhys-Conway as Jacob Logan.
- The Bay’s Erin Shanagher as Jane Shelley.
- Silo’s Tiffany Gray as Tabbie Marwell.
- Newcomer Ben Stevenson-Langley as Ben Hughes.
- Casualty’s Freddie Dawson as Vince.
- Coronation Street’s Sushil Chudasama as Tommy.
- The Dry’s Bryan Quinn as Ruairi.
- Fair City’s James O’Driscoll as Cillian Carr.
‘Two very surprising roles’ for Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay
Vikings: Valhalla’s Rachel Kilfeather is lead writer on the series, with Smother’s Marcus Fleming. Emmy-winning and BAFTA-nominated Paul Wilmshurst directs.
Executive Producer Mike Bensontold us: “We’ve obviously worked numerous times with two of the most talented actresses in the country in Sally and Jill. But never before in the same show. Seeing them both together on screen – and in two very surprising roles – is something I know viewers will be every bit as excited about as we are.”
What filming locations were used?
Number One Fan is set in Manchester but filmed in Northern Spain.
And it’s certainly not the first time a drama has been set in the UK, but filmed in Spain. The Game was set in North England, but filmed in San Sebastian. Meanwhile, The Teacher series 3 was also filmed in the Basque region of Spain, despite being set in Sheffield.
Girl Taken was set in a quiet rural village, but was also recently filmed in and around San Sebastian. The recent Missed Call was set and filmed entirely on location in the South of France.
