You’d be forgiven for assuming that with a name like Summerwater, you’re about to watch a light-hearted show set in a sunny location, with all the characters smiling and getting on with each other.
Unfortunately, we’re here to shatter that illusion.
Instead, the characters of Summerwater find themselves at a Scottish holiday park with the August sun failing to make much of an appearance. But perhaps even stunning weather wouldn’t be enough to help our protagonists relax because they’ve got a lot of drama going on in their personal lives.
What is Summerwater about?
It turns out a lot can happen in 24 hours. In fact, all six episodes of Summerwater are set within the same 24 hours, but are each told from a different viewpoint – the viewpoints of a series of cabins in a Scottish holiday park.
Expecting a relaxing retreat, the lives of several families at a Scottish holiday park soon become interwoven as the holidaymakers are forced to confront their darkest desires and hidden secrets. Think The White Lotus if it was set in Scotland.
Who stars in Summerwater?
Valene Kane as Justine Tindall
Recently passed over for a promotion at work, Justine had hoped that this family trip with her husband Steve and their two children Lola and Jack would re-set her negative mood, but it soon becomes clear that Justine has been holding on to her resentment towards both her job and her family for a long time.
Northern Irish actor Valene is probably best known for taking on dramatic roles like Justine in Summerwater. Her first recurring TV role came with The Fall (2013-2016) in which she played Rose Stagg, then there was the Jodie Comer-led Thirteen (2016) in which she played D.S. Lisa Merchant.
More recent roles include Jacqueline Robinson in Gangs of London (2020-2022), Angela in series one of Blue Lights(2023) and Morgan in The Winter King (2023).
Daniel Rigby as Steve Tindall
To be frank, Steve is a bit of a loser. With his wife Justine seemingly having lost interest in him he finds himself attracted to waitress Alina, but his casual xenophobia soon mars their relationship.
We’ll be honest, Daniel has made something of a name for himself by playing losers. There was Mr Martin – a music teacher with ambitions to be a singer-songwriter – in Big School (2013-2014) and Officer Hayward in Sick Note (2017-2018). Daniel is also set to star in the much talked about TV adaptation of Harry Potter as Vernon Dursley. Is there a bigger loser than Uncle Vernon?
But there have also been some frankly iconic roles in Daniel’s repertoire including being the narrator of Teletubbies from 2015-2018 and leading the episode of Black Mirror called The Waldo Moment - the one about the blue animated bear called Waldo who stands as a candidate to become a member of parliament.
Dougray Scott as David Campbell
Despite being a GP by trade, David’s sensitivity towards his patients doesn’t extend to his wife Annie’s struggles, and he frequently abandons her during her times of need.
Dougray has had a very busy 2025. As well as the release of Summerwater this month, this year he’s also appeared in the American mystery series Sherlock & Daughter as Professor Moriarty and The Crow Girl – which is set to return for a second series – as Lou Stanley.
Other notable TV roles of Dougray’s include AVM Marcus Grainger in series two of the Suranne Jones-led Vigil (2023), Tony Lord in A Town Called Malice (2023), Ray Lennox in Crime (from 2021), Vic Hill in Snatch (2017-2018) and Ian Hainsworth in Desperate Housewives (2006-2007).
Shirley Henderson as Annie Campbell
With her health in rapid decline, ahead of their trip to the Scottish holiday park Annie has made a dramatic decision about her life that her husband David isn’t willing to go along with.
Honestly it might be quicker to ask, 'What hasn’t Shirley Henderson starred in?' The actor’s prolific TV appearances includes but is not limited to: Netflix’s Dept. Q (2025) in which she played Claire Marsh, The Nest (2020) in which she played Siobhan, series two of Happy Valley (2016) in which she played Frances Drummond and Southcliffe (2013) in which she played Claire Salter. For playing Claire, Shirley was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress.
And the film credits to Shirley’s name are even more impressive. She of course plays Jude - one of Bridget’s BFFs - in the Bridget Jones franchise, Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter film franchise, Gail in Trainspotting (1996) and Matron in Wild Child (2008).
Shereen Cutkelvin as Millie Nkene
Just before the pair move in together, Millie and her boyfriend Josh have gone on holiday with his family. But despite their physical attraction to each other, Millie is soon left questioning whether her relationship with Josh is going to work in the long term.
Playing Millie in Summerwater marks Shereen’s biggest role to date. But before she found fame as an actor, Shereen was a member of the short-lived girl group Neon Jungle which also included EastEnders and The Girl Before actor Jessica Plummer.
Anders Hayward as Josh Gilmour
Bless him! Millie’s boyfriend Josh is a sweetheart, but hasn’t got a huge amount going on upstairs. That means that when Millie starts questioning their relationship, he isn’t sure what to do.
Playing Josh in Summerwater marks Anders biggest role to date, but you may have also spotted the actor in a couple of episodes of Silent Witness (2024), in Guilt (2023) alongside his Summerwater co-star Jamie Sives and Life After Life (2022).
Anna Prochniak as Alina Piortrowska
Reluctantly working as a waitress at the Summerwater hotel, mum-of-one Alina is a budding photographer and rarely seen without her camera.
Polish actor Anna’s biggest role to date was playing Gita in the adaptation of The Tattooist of Auschwitz (2024). You may have also spotted Anna in series two of Showtrial (2024).
Arnas Fedaravicius as Marijonas Zaliskevicius
Struggling with his mother Rasa being a major presence in his life and not feeling fulfilled by his work as a PT, Marijonas enjoys letting off steam with loud, boozy parties that rub his Summerwater neighbours up the wrong way.
2025 has been a big year for Arnas. As well as Summerwater, the actor shot to fame when he appeared in the third season of The White Lotus as naughty heartthrob Valentin. Other notable TV roles of Arnas to date include Lukas Nowak in series eight of Shetland (2023), Masema Dagar in The Wheel of Time (2023) and Sihtric in The Last Kingdom (2017-2022).
Shauna Macdonald as Rachel Henderson
Trying her best to keep the family together after her husband Ian’s unwise investing put them at risk of financial ruin, Rachel could really do with a relaxing holiday to let of steam. Unfortunately her son Alex, daughter Becky and husband Ian don’t make that easy for her.
Shauna’s first major TV role came with the spy drama Spooks (2003-2004) in which she played Sam Baxton. That was followed by Sonia Baker in State of Play (2003), Dr. Wallace in The Cry (2018), Vonny Scott in The Scotts and Rachel Cairns in series seven of Shetland (2022).
Jamie Sives as Ian Henderson
Despite possessing potentially the biggest heart of any character in Summerwater Ian doesn’t possess the head for business, and his secretive investing have put him at odds with his wife Rachel.
A prolific Scottish actor, Jamie has starred in plenty of well-received TV series over the years including Netflix’s Dept Q. (2025) alongside his Summerwater co-star Shirley Henderson, Shetland (2023) in which he played Cal Innes, Annika (2021-2023) in which he played DS Michael McAndrews, Guilt (2019-2023) in which he played Jake McCall and Frontier (2017-2018) in which he played McTaggart.
Film-wise Jamie has had small roles in films including Clash of the Titans (2010), Get Him to the Greek (2010) and Rush (2013).
Calum Ross as Alex Henderson
Bored and hormonal, Alex isn’t displaying his usual ‘Golden Boy’ behaviour on the Henderson family holiday to Summerwater.
Whilst Summerwater undoubtedly marks Calum’s biggest role to date, Calum has also appeared in a few episodes of series one of Netflix’s Wednesday as Rowan Laslow.
Silvie Furneaux as Becky Henderson
A typical teenager, Becky would rather be anywhere else than at Summerwater holiday camp with her family, and a potential romance with a mysterious older man doesn’t quite bring the fun and excitement that she anticipated.
Another alum of Annika (2021-2023), Silvie played the daughter of the titular Annika (Nicola Walker). Other TV series Silvie has appeared in include Red Rose (2022) and series one of Vigil (2021).
James Harkness as Gavin
An ex-solider, Gavin has abandoned his young family after being unable to trust himself around them as a result of his severe PTSD. He now lives in the woods at Summerwater, on the edges of society.
James is probably best known for playing Craig Myers in The Victim (2019). Other notable roles of James to date include James in The Nest (2020), Jimmy Love in The English Game (2020), Kev in Gangs of London (2020), Tamerlane in Raised by Wolves (2022) and DS Sandy Gay in The Bombing of Pan Am 103 (2025).
Is Summerwater based on a book?
The six-part ITV series Summerwater is based on a novel of the same name by Sarah Moss.
This is the first adaptation of one of Sarah’s works. To date, she has published eight novels including Ghost Wall (2018) and Ripeness (2025), as well as two memoirs.
When is Summerwater set to air?
The first episode of Summerwater will air at 9pm on Sunday 16 November on Channel 4.
Daisy Hall became a writer for TVChoice after realising that she could make a career out of her incredible ability to extensively name an actor's credits when they randomly pop up in whatever she's watching. Her friends find it infuriating, but hopefully you find it useful!