Where there’s a will there’s a war as the saying goes, and writer Aschlin Ditta’s 2023 drama The Inheritance dealt with the fallout when three adult children are unexpectedly written out of their father’s estate. But his latest offering, The Fortune looks at a reverse situation, to equally explosive effect.
Café worker Amanda (Eleanor Tomlinson) - a happily married mum of one - finds that she’s inherited a vast amount of money from a man she’s never even heard of, let alone met! Amanda’s benefactor is enigmatic businessman Martin Worrall and her life veers abruptly from contentment to something decidedly more tricksy when she gets involved with his family, including his wife Fiona and his son Anthony.
The news that Amanda is set to inherit a fortune throws a difference in opinion between her and husband Jimmy into sharp relief. As Matthew Lewis, who plays Jimmy, says ‘Do you really know the person you are married to? A bombshell like this is a great way of finding out.’
She never knew her father and as her mum is struggling with dementia, it’s difficult for Amanda to get answers about her past.
As things get murkier for the reluctant heiress, here’s everything you need to know about riveting psychological potboiler The Fortune.
Who stars in The Fortune?
Eleanor Tomlinson as Amanda
One of the few people not to be thrilled by the news they’ve inherited a fortune, Amanda can barely remember what her previously contented life was like as events unfold in The Fortune…
‘Amanda and Jimmy’s normality is what I liked about them,’ Eleanor Tomlinson says. ‘Then she gets a visit from a lawyer who claims to be the executor of a will that has named her as the beneficiary. It’s a bizarre moment. These days you expect everything to be a hoax.’
Eleanor Tomlinson is probably still best known as flame-haired Demelza from Poldark (2015-2019), but she’s since starred in The War Of The Worlds (2019), The Outlaws (2021-24), One Day (2024) and The Forsytes (2025).
Denis Lawson as Martin
Amanda's mystery benefactor Martin is wealthy, with a loving wife and family. But very early on we see he’s haunted by something from his past – with devastating consequences.
Now aged 78, the many highlights of Denis Lawson’s TV career include Rock Follies (1976-1977), That Uncertain Feeling (1986), The Ambassador (1998-1999), New Tricks (2003-2015), Bleak House (2005), and Holby City (2012).
Other television credits of his include Jekyll (2007), Marchlands (2011), Case Histories (2011-2013), The Paradise (2012-2013), Shetland (2014), Tin Star (2017-2020) and The Bay (2022). But apparently what the cast and crew were mainly fanboying/fangirling over during filming was Denis’s role as Wedge Antilles in the Star Wars films (1977-2019)!
Matthew Lewis as Jimmy
Jimmy is Amanda’s husband. While she thinks they’re perfectly happy as they are, Jimmy thinks they have everything they need but they could always have more…
‘As actors the fun bit is trying to unpick those psychological decisions that people make,’ Matthew Lewis reveals. ‘That’s what I like doing. It’s a puzzle to be solved. If this show teaches anything to people by the end it’s that communication in relationships can go a long, long way.’
Matthew Lewis experienced child stardom playing Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films (2001-2011). He’s since appeared in Bluestone 42 (2013-2015), Ripper Street (2006) and he’s played All Creatures Great And Small’s Hugh Hulton from 2020 until now.
Callum Woodhouse as Anthony
The son of Amanda’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) mystery benefactor, Anthony was living his best life – driving a Porsche, riding a top-end motorbike and doing the odd spot of clay pigeon shooting – until his father’s bombshell bequest. Anthony is, understandably, not best pleased.
The Fortune was shot near where Callum grew up, so he got to use his own accent for his character – which he says he’d almost forgotten how to do!
‘I’ve lived in London for over 10 years now. When I go home and see my parents after however long I’ve been in London they go, “God, you’re talking so posh now!” Then I come back to London after spending two weeks at home with them and my girlfriend is like, “I can’t understand a word you are saying.”'
Another All Creatures Great And Small alum, Callum Woodhouse plays Tristan Farnon in the drama. You may also recognise the actor from Cold Feet (2016), and The Durrells (2016-2019).
Paula Wilcox as Linda
Linda is Amanda’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) mum. Having raised her daughter alone, Linda had been very close to her daughter, until dementia created problems with their communication. Linda now lives in a care home, where Amanda visits her.
‘Dementia kind of separates you from the ones who love you and who you love,’ Paula Wilcox explains. ‘Linda is very much in that state where she sometimes makes sense and sometimes doesn’t.’
With a career stretching back more than 50 years, nowadays Paula is a quietly iconic figure in British TV. She starred in groundbreaking sitcom The Lovers (1970-1971) and that role, including her turn as flirty Chrissy in Man About The House (1973-1976) put her firmly on the map. Since then, TV highlights include Emmerdale (2007-2008), Mount Pleasant (2011-2017), Boomers (2014-2016), Upstart Crow (2017-2018), Trying (2020–2022), and she also played Elaine Jones in Coronation Street (2020-2023).
Danielle Walters as Sandy
Sandy is Amanda’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) best friend and also works in the cafe – although she’s not best pleased by Amanda’s habit of cutting short her shift and leaving Sandy in the lurch!
Danielle Walters has become familiar over the past decade thanks to starring both in comedies and comedy dramas. She played Candice in cult comedy Chewing Gum (2015-2017), before appearing in series including Stath Lets Flats (2018-2019), The Other One (2020-2022) and Dreaming Whilst Black (2023).
Nina Wadia as Laura Mistry
Laura Mistry is the solicitor who turns up at the café bearing news of Amanda’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) financial windfall.
Nina Wadia starred in acclaimed BBC comedy Goodness Gracious Me (1998-2001; 2014-2015), before appearing in shows including Perfect World (2000-2001), All About Me (2003-2004), Skins (2007-2008), Doctor Who (2010), Still Open All Hours (2013-2018), Trollied (2018) and Origin (2018), but of course she’s probably best known for playing Zainab Masood in EastEnders (2007-2013).
Where was The Fortune filmed?
The Fortune was filmed entirely in the North East of England during an eight-week shoot, at locations including Hartlepool and coastal and rural areas across Northumberland.
Is The Fortune based on a true story?
'I had actually read a story about somebody who won the lottery and then decided not to take it. That’s obviously very interesting,’ explains writer Aschlin Ditta, who’s also the creator of last year’s drama The Feud, which starred Jill Halfpenny and Rupert Penry-Jones. ‘What I wanted to hold onto most when I was writing The Fortune was what an external pressure like an inheritance from a mystery benefactor does to a happy marriage.’
Where can I watch The Fortune?
The Fortune is available to stream on 5 from Tuesday, 2 June 2026
Martina Fowler has worked for TV Choice for, well, several years and very much learned ‘on the job’. Remembering to switch on her Dictaphone was an early triumph, only bettered by demanding of the interviewee (who asked not to be named) why it wasn’t working.