Shetland meets Happy Valley: Wild is Channel 5’s “unmissable” new drama with an “unsettling” premise
Imagine you set off for your yearly getaway with friends, all smiles and excitement, only for it to go horribly wrong. That’s the unsettling situation three old friends find themselves in in Channel 5’s unmissable new drama, Wild. In what’s something of a Shetland and Happy Valley mash-up, the series takes us to the unforgiving Scottish Highland where (Line of Duty‘s Daniel Mays), Alistair (Joel Fry) and Dev (Happy Valley‘s Amit Shah) find themselves lost, hungry and angry.
What begins as a fun, banter-filled camping trip quickly descends into chaos as the threesome lose their way and seemingly, all means of getting out of there. The question is, will their friendship survive and, more importantly, will they? The series is among a number of newly-announced shows for the broadcaster and, given the impressive cast, we’ve got high hopes for it.
While we patiently wait for Wild to arrive on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming drama, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Wild about?
Sky UK
The survival dramedy introduces us to three old friends, Lou (Daniel Mays), Dev (Amit Shah) and Alistair (Joel Fry), who head on their annual camping trip in the stunning Scottish Highlands. Their yearly tradition starts off as usual, filled with banter, nostalgic stories and amateur vlogging, but it all starts to unravel when they got lost in the Scottish Highlands.
Their getaway transforms into a battle of egos as long-held secrets are exposed, food rations run low and tensions run high. According to Channel 5’s official synopsis: “At once funny, poignant, and unsettling, Wild explores the line between adventure and recklessness, and how toxic masculinity has become a huge part of the epidemic decline in men’s mental health.”
Chris Jackson
The standalone film is part of Channel 5’s popular Play for Today strand, which has featured recent releases Big Winners and Never Too Late. Commissioning editor for 5, Paul Testar, says of the strand: “The response to the first Play for Today films last year was hugely encouraging, and this new line-up builds brilliantly on that success. We’ve brought together an incredible cast – from some of the UK’s most respected screen talent to exciting new voices, reflecting both the ambition and the diversity of the strand. I couldn’t be more excited to see these stories brought to life.”
Who is in the cast of Wild?
Marc Piasecki
The cast of Wild includes:
- Daniel Mays (Line of Duty, White Lines) as Lou
- Joel Fry (Game of Thrones, Our Flag Means Death) as Alistair
- Amit Shah (Happy Valley, Mr Bates vs the Post Office) as Dev
Where other dramas has Daniel Mays been in?
ITV
You may well remember Daniel Mays from his role as Sergeant Danny Waldron in the third series of Line of Duty. He also played Marcus Ward in mystery thriller White Lines and Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay in the ITV series Des. His next role is in Believe Me, a harrowing real-life drama that spotlights the case of serial taxi rapist John Worboys. The series will premiere on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday 10th May.
How can I watch Wild?
Channel 5 hasn’t yet shared a release date for Wild, but we do know that it will air at some point later this year. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll share it here.
What other Channel 5 dramas can I watch now?
Channel 5
If you like the sound of a creepy stalker drama, we’d recommend Number One Fan. The four-part series stars Jill Halfpenny as TV star Lucy, who’s saved from an attack by Donna (Sally Lindsay) and while, at first, Lucy is appreciative, things soon take an eerie turn. If period dramas are more your thing, we’d suggest The Hardacres, which follows the titular working class Hardacre family’s rise from poverty to staggering wealth. You can watch both dramas on Channel 5 now.
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