Coldwater, which was first announced as Cold Water, is a British TV show on ITV. It stars Andrew Lincoln, Ewen Bremner, Indira Varma, and Eve Myles.

Plot summary

John, a man in his middle years who is struggling with confusion about who he is after being unable to act during a violent event at a playground in London, moves with his wife, Fiona, and their children to a peaceful village in Scotland called Coldwater. John hopes for a calm and stable life, while Fiona sees the move as an opportunity to repair her marriage and write about her work as a successful restaurant owner. Soon after arriving, they meet their neighbor, Tommy, a friendly and seemingly religious man married to the local minister, Rebecca. Tommy appears to be a perfect husband, father, and community leader, leading a men’s book club and presenting himself as a man of strong faith. John is both impressed and curious about Tommy, but Fiona feels uneasy about him from the beginning. Her feelings are correct, as John’s need for friendship makes him overlook Tommy’s harmful behavior.

Over time, Tommy’s kindness begins to show signs of being fake. The family’s cat is found dead, neighbors start saying John might be involved in violent deaths, and proof appears that Tommy is trying to blame John for crimes. Tommy influences the villagers, spreads false stories, and even makes his own children question outsiders. It is later discovered that Tommy had a difficult childhood, marked by abuse, cruelty toward animals, and a father who accepted violence, leaving Tommy without the ability to feel empathy. Tommy keeps items from his victims, such as jewelry and the collar of John’s cat, hidden in boxes in his garage. These hidden problems turn the peaceful village into a dangerous place. John’s family becomes a target, Fiona is scared, and the neighbors become hostile as fear grows. John finally realizes that Tommy is responsible for the deaths of several people, including Angus, Nathan, and others like Suzie Bissett. Tommy becomes obsessed with John, trying to make him believe he is like Tommy and involved in the violence.

The story reaches its most intense moment when Tommy kidnaps John, threatens Fiona and the children, and forces John to choose between joining him or proving his loyalty by committing violence. Tommy admits to killing Nathan, the cat, and others, claiming John is “just like him.” John refuses, saying he is not a killer and not Tommy’s follower. A fight happens, and John is shot. The truth is revealed, proving John’s innocence and shocking the community that they lived near a serial killer who hid in plain sight. Afterward, Fiona and John work to rebuild their lives and trust in each other. John reads the story of Jonah, who was swallowed by a large fish and later released, as a symbol of how he was pulled into darkness but survived.

Cast

• Andrew Lincoln plays the role of John
• Eve Myles plays the role of Rebecca
• Ewen Bremner plays the role of Tommy
• Indira Varma plays the role of Fiona
• Lorn Macdonald plays the role of Angus
• Samuel Bottomley plays the role of Cameron
• Abigail Lawrie plays the role of Moira-Jane
• Lois Chimimba plays the role of Catriona
• Gilly Gilchrist plays the role of Nathan
• Jonathan Watson plays the role of Williams
• Greg Hemphill plays the role of Bobby

Production

The six-part series was written by David Ireland and produced by Sister for ITV. The series was executive produced by Chris Fry, Alice Tyler, Lydia Hampson, and Jane Featherstone. The series was produced by Ireland, Brian Coffey, and Andrew Lincoln, who also stars in the series. The lead cast includes Eve Myles, Ewen Bremner, and Indira Varma.

Filming began in the UK in July 2024. Filming locations include Dennistoun, Glasgow, Scotland. It was also filmed in the semi-rural town of Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, and the villages of Dunlop, East Ayrshire, and Gartocharn, West Dunbartonshire. Other locations in Stirlingshire included Blanefield, Buchlyvie, and Callander.