Jill Halfpenny Leads Two Major TV Dramas In 2026

The British television landscape is set for an electrifying start to 2026, with acclaimed actress Jill Halfpenny at the center of not one, but two major drama series. As the celebrated performer marks her 50th year, she brings her signature depth and authenticity to the highly anticipated second season of ITV’s After The Flood and headlines the psychological thriller Number One Fan—a pair of roles that showcase her evolution from beloved soap star to one of the most compelling figures in contemporary drama.

Fans of After The Flood have been waiting with bated breath for the return of the moody, atmospheric crime drama, which first captured audiences two years ago. The new season, set to premiere on January 18, 2026, on ITV and streaming on ITVX, picks up a year after the events of the first series. According to BBC, the story resumes with Detective Sergeant Sam Bradley, played by Halfpenny, joining forces with PC Joanna Marshall—brought to life by Peaky Blinders alum Sophie Rundle. Marshall, now a new mother and recently promoted, is drawn into a murky underworld of murder and environmental disaster, working undercover to expose a corrupt colleague. The drama is produced by Quay Street Productions in association with ITV Studios, and this season’s filming took place partly in Oldham, including memorable scenes shot at Royton’s Tandle Hill park in April 2025. Residents were warned of park closures and dramatic “fire effects,” hinting at the high-stakes moor fire storyline that will unfold.

Appearing on BBC’s The One Show alongside Rundle on January 14, Halfpenny shed light on her character’s dynamic with the maverick Joanna Marshall. “I’m always the one being questioned, crying, going: I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it,” she joked, reflecting on her usual roles. This time, though, she relishes the opportunity to play the seasoned detective supporting a younger, risk-taking partner. “I liked the cast, so when they asked me to join it was a really easy yes,” Halfpenny told The Sun, emphasizing the camaraderie and creative energy on set. She describes DS Bradley as warm and approachable, but hints at deeper layers beneath the surface—an everywoman who is grounded and straightforward, but far from one-dimensional.

The new season promises more than just a procedural whodunit. Rundle’s character, Joanna, is balancing the demands of motherhood with the pressures of a promotion and the danger of operating “under the radar” to expose corruption. As Rundle explained to presenters Vernon Kay and Angelica Bell, “Murder and environmental disasters will still feature in the new series of the six-part crime drama, but this time Joanna is working under the radar to take down a corrupt colleague.” Halfpenny’s DS Bradley is there to keep Joanna out of trouble—without stepping on her toes. The chemistry between the leads, as well as a strong supporting cast including Lorraine Ashbourne and Matt Stokoe, promises to deliver both emotional resonance and edge-of-your-seat suspense.

For Halfpenny, these rich, complex roles mark a significant shift from her early career. She first rose to fame as a young actress in Byker Grove before becoming a familiar face in EastEnders, Coronation Street, and Waterloo Road. But, as she candidly admits, the parts she was offered in her twenties often felt limiting. “It gets quite dull when you’re a young 20-year-old, playing the secretary, or the girl in the village. That gets quite boring after a while,” she told The Sun. The landscape, she notes, has changed for the better, with writers now telling more diverse and intricate stories from women’s perspectives. “I find my recent roles to be much more fulfilling,” she added, underscoring her excitement for the current wave of character-driven drama.

Halfpenny’s career renaissance is not limited to After The Flood. She is also starring in the gripping thriller Girl Taken on Paramount TV+, and will soon be seen in the headline role of Number One Fan, a four-part psychological thriller commissioned by Paramount’s Channel 5 for its 2026 schedule. The series, produced by Clapperboard and directed by Emmy-winning Paul Wilmshurst, sees Halfpenny as Lucy, a TV presenter whose life is turned upside down after she is saved from an attack by Donna (played by Sally Lindsay)—a stranger who claims to be her “number one fan.”

The project has already generated significant buzz in the industry. Keshet International (KI) acquired the international distribution rights and will launch the series at The London TV Screenings on February 24, 2026. As Kelly Wright, KI’s MD of Distribution, remarked, “We’re thrilled to headline our 2026 scripted slate with Number One Fan, a bold, addictive revenge thriller with the kind of cat-and-mouse intensity that global audiences loved in Killing Eve. What makes this series truly distinctive is that we see a woman stalking another woman, and the layers being peeled back in the complex relationship between Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay’s characters. With Paul Wilmshurst and Clapperboard’s confident, stylish direction, this is a smart, provocative thriller that will keep buyers and audiences guessing right to the end.”

Production for Number One Fan wrapped in Spain, and with KI’s backing, the show is set to reach international audiences. Anke Stoll, KI’s SVP of Acquisitions and Co-productions, praised the collaboration: “From the moment I read the scripts, I knew this was the project we’d been waiting for. Together with 5’s Sebastian Cardwell, Mike and his team have assembled an incredible cast and crew who have created a must-watch drama about the darker side of fame that really does have international appeal.” Mike Benson, MD for Clapperboard and Executive Producer, echoed that excitement: “We are delighted a dynamic, international company like Keshet International has decided to partner with us on Number One Fan. We’re looking forward to bringing this exciting show and cast to viewers all over the world with them.”

While Halfpenny’s professional life is flourishing, she has not shied away from discussing the personal challenges that have shaped her journey. After the sudden death of her long-term partner, Matt Janes, in 2017, she confronted grief that echoed the loss of her father at a young age. In her memoir, A Life Reimagined, she explores these experiences candidly, advocating for open conversations about loss. “Life isn’t perfect, but I’m happy to be where I’m at,” she reflects, finding contentment in her home by the sea in the North East and in her role as mother to her 17-year-old son, Harvey.

The coming year promises to be a landmark one for Jill Halfpenny, as she leads two of the UK’s most talked-about dramas. With a slate of roles that demand both vulnerability and strength, she continues to redefine what it means to be a leading woman on British television—proving that the best stories are those that embrace life’s complexity, courage, and, sometimes, its deepest sorrows.