Paul Mescal's New Channel 5 Drama 'The Deceived' Looks Amazing But Where Is His Chain?

Connell... is that you?

Unity Blott

Published 10:27 25 Jul 2020 GMT+1Updated 10:28 25 Jul 2020 GMT+1

We've barely recovered from his star turn in Normal People, but Paul Mescal is back again with a new Channel 5 series - and suffice to say we're already counting down the days until it drops.

New pictures have just been released from The Deceived, a mystery thriller that hits screens later this year, and Normal People fans may feel a sense of déja vu with the cosy Irish pub settings (much of the series is set in Donegal).

Mescal plays "handsome and rugged local builder" Sean according to Channel 5, starring alongside Emily Reid as student Ophelia, who falls in love with her married university lecturer Dr Michael Callaghan (played by Peaky Blinders star Emmet J. Scanlan).

Ophelia flees to Ireland, but when Michael's wife Roisin mysteriously dies in a house fire, the student suspects that all is not well and that her lover's late wife may still be alive. With the help of Paul's character, McKeough, Ophelia tries to find out what's going on.

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Speaking about the role, Paul said: "I had two days off after I wrapped filming on Normal People and then I started filming The Deceived. This is my second ever TV role. As for whether I was nervous...? Totally.

"I don't have enough experience to feel completely comfortable stepping onto set but everybody was so welcoming and kind on this show. The nerves were very much present when I stepped on set on my first day for The Deceived. But I'd be worried if that feeling wasn't present because I don't think nerves are necessarily a bad thing."

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Describing his character, Sean McKeogh, Paul added: "Sean is a simple man, in a good sense. He is a man directly invested in the community, he has a very strong and good moral compass and he has his eye on Ophelia.

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"He is attracted to her but also there is a slight concern he has for her. Most of my scenes are with Emily (Reid), who is phenomenal in this and she is a wonderful person and was very kind and generous with her time."

And discussing the themes of gaslighting and psychological abuse that are explored in the show, he added: "It's great to be a part of something that is showing this because to be honest I imagine the situation in this drama is a common occurrence, unfortunately."

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He added: "Ultimately whether it is gaslighting or abuse, it is about a person in power manipulating the situation and that is something that is very present in our society, not just with the #MeToo movement but as a societal theme and so it is great to see this explored in a domestic, Irish setting but also with the subtle supernatural quality under the show - it is really well judged and well balanced."

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Normal People, adapted from the Sally Rooney novel, aired on the BBC earlier this year and fans soon became obsessed with the on-off relationship between students Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Mescal).

But it wasn't just the chemistry between the star-crossed lovers that got fans flustered, with Connell's silver chain earning its own fan base and, bafflingly, its own Instagram account.