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Kate Winslet and Maxine Peake confirmed for new sibling drama from Adolescence creator

Jack Thorne is returning to Netflix with what already sounds like a gripping watch.

Kate Winslet and Maxine Peake both wearing formal attire and standing on red carpets.

Stephanie Augello/Getty Images and Hoda Davaine/WireImage

Published: Wednesday, 26 August 2026 at 3:53 pm

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Off the back of 2025's most talked-about series, Adolescence, series co-creator and writer Jack Thorne is returning to the streamer with another limited series – and it's set to be fronted by two very starry names.

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It's now been confirmed that Kate Winslet and Maxine Peake are to play sisters on the run in The Unheard, a new Netflix drama from Thorne. The news comes as part of a wide-ranging UK slate unveiled at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

The five-episode limited series tells the story of "two sisters who go on the run after an act of vengeance goes wrong."

The series logline teases: "As they are desperately pursued, the drama asks what pushed them to such a reckless act, and whether they ever intended to get away with it."

Jack Thorne smiling at the camera, wearing a blue shirt, during the premiere of Lord of the Flies.

Jack Thorne. Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix

The Unheard reunites some of the creative talent behind Adolescence, the one-shot Netflix drama that Thorne co-created and co-wrote with Stephen Graham and which became a veritable standout of the year. Well, the gang is somewhat back together as Graham and his Matriarch Productions partner (and real-life wife) Hannah Walters serve as executive producers on the new drama, alongside Winslet and Thorne.

Winslet, the Oscar winner known for The Reader and Mare of Easttown, also executive produces. Her recent screen work has ranged widely: she led the HBO miniseries The Regime as autocratic ruler Chancellor Elena Vernham in 2024, played wartime photographer Lee Miller in 2024 feature Lee, and returned as Ronal in Avatar: Fire and Ash in 2025. She also made her feature directorial debut on the 2025 Netflix family drama Goodbye June, which she directed, produced and starred in.

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She is joined on screen by Peake, whose recent credits boast the acclaimed FX and Disney+ drama Say Nothing, in which she played the older Dolours Price across the 2024 miniseries about the Troubles.

On the big screen she has since appeared as murdered Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya in Words of War and as Dottie Achenbach in I Swear, both released in 2025. Having also appeared in Prime Video's Bait, Peake will next be seen in Apple TV thriller Last Seen.

The Unheard comes from director Mounia Akl and writer and creator Thorne, produced by Warp Films, Plan B and Matriarch Productions. Warp's Mark Herbert and Emily Feller executive produce, along with Plan B's Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Nina Wolarsky. Whilst a release date hasn't yet been confirmed, we do know that filming is due to kick off in 2027.

The Unheard was announced alongside a raft of other Netflix UK commissions, including a How to Kill Your Family adaptation starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Clive Owen, two new dramas set in the world of Top Boy featuring Barry Keoghan and Jasmine Jobson, and fresh comedy from Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee and Friday Night Dinner writer Robert Popper.

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The Unheard is coming soon to Netflix. You can sign up to Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky TV and Virgin Media.

Add The Unheard to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

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Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Morgan Cormack, smiling against a lime green background

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.

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