Passenger premieres on BritBox this October. Don’t miss this intense mystery as Detective Riya Ajunwa investigates bizarre happenings.
BritBox International has announced that its latest original series, Passenger, will debut on Friday, 18 October, with the first two episodes set to be available for streaming from 12 PM AEST.
Accompanying the announcement, BritBox also released the official trailer and a selection of first-look images for the six-part limited series.
Passenger marks the screenwriting debut of Andrew Buchan, known for his acting roles in Broadchurch, The Honourable Woman, and Better. The series delves into the lives of residents in the small, close-knit fictional town of Chadder Vale, who are grappling with their deep-seated fears of change, outsiders, and the unknown.
The narrative follows Former Met Police Detective Riya Ajunwa, portrayed by Wunmi Mosaku, as she investigates a series of bizarre and inexplicable incidents that leave the townspeople reeling. Riya, who relocated to the decaying Chadder Vale five years ago, has been in search of a significant case—something that would reignite her sense of purpose. Her opportunity seems to arrive when local girl Katie Wells (played by Rowan Robinson) mysteriously disappears one night, only to resurface the next day, apparently unharmed.
While the town quickly moves on from the incident, asking few questions, Riya remains unsettled. As more unusual occurrences and shocking crimes begin to plague the town, the residents hastily turn to superficial explanations, blaming external factors such as the local fracking site and its manager, Jim Bracknell (portrayed by David Threlfall).
As the situation in Chadder Vale grows increasingly strange, the townspeople resist Riya’s growing suspicions, dismissing her concerns as outlandish. But the question remains—what are they so afraid of?
The mystery will unfold over six episodes, with two episodes being released each Friday, leading up to the series finale on 1 November.
The ensemble cast includes Wunmi Mosaku (Loki), Barry Sloane (Revenge), Rowan Robinson (A Haunting in Venice), David Threlfall (Shameless), Arian Nik (Count Abdulla), and Ella Bruccoleri (Call the Midwife).
Passenger is helmed by directors Nicole Charles and Lee Haven-Jones, with Buchan also serving as an associate producer. The series is produced by Sumrah Mohammed (The Split 3) and boasts an impressive team of executive producers, including Lucy Dyke (Black Mirror), Simon Maloney (I May Destroy You), and Jane Featherstone (Chernobyl).
The series is produced by SISTER in association with Northern Sister and was commissioned by ITV for ITVX and ITV1, under the guidance of Polly Hill, ITV’s Head of Drama. Reemah Sakaan and Stephen Nye also serve as executive producers for BritBox International.
