A compelling, sinister narrative of lust, manipulation and betrayal, the central character in The Deceived is English student Ophelia (Emily Reid – Belgravia, Curfew), who falls in love with her married lecturer, seeing in him all the answers to her needs. When their affair is interrupted by a shocking and tragic death, Ophelia finds herself trapped in a world where she can no longer trust her own mind.
Ophelia Marsh (Emily Reid) is studying English at Cambridge when, shortly after embarking on an affair with charismatic lecturer Michael Callaghan (Emmett J. Scanlan), he suddenly disappears. Ophelia tracks him to his family home in Knockdara, Ireland, where she discovers that his wife, the famous author Roisin Mulvery (Catherine Walker), has died in a fire. Michael takes her to his house, where she meets handsome and rugged local builder Sean (Paul Mescal).
At dinner, Michael admits to Ophelia that he told Roisin about their affair the night she died. They are declaring their love to each other, when they are interrupted by Roisin’s volatile and suspicious mother Mary (Eleanor Methven), who is aghast to find a young girl in the house wearing Roisin’s clothes. That night, Ophelia hears a strange knocking coming from behind the locked door to a mysterious room.
The next morning, in the garden summer house, she finds the manuscript for Michael’s upcoming novel, along with a key, which she uses to unlock the mysterious door. It is Roisin’s study. On Roisin’s computer, she discovers concerned emails from someone called Ruth (Shelley Conn), who Michael dismisses as a jealous friend of Roisin’s. That night, Ophelia is awoken once more by the knocking. She goes to the study where she is faced with a terrible sight.
Ophelia has her first tutorial with Michael at St Luke’s College, Cambridge. Pictured: Emmett Scanlan as Michael and Emily Reid as Ophelia in The Deceived. 
Michael and Mary attend a funeral which Ophelia interrupts at Knockdara Church. Pictured: Emmett Scanlan as Michael and Eleanor Methven as Mary at Killough Church in The Deceived. 
Ophelia watches Michael deliver a lecture at the University of Cambridge English Faculty. Pictured: Emmett Scanlan as Michael in The Deceived. 
Michael and Mary reminisce about Roisin at The House in Knockdara. PIctured: Emmett Scanlan as Michael in The Deceived. 
Michael and Mary attend a funeral which Ophelia interrupts at Knockdara Church. Emmett Scanlan as Michael in The Deceived. 
Michael and Mary attend a funeral which Ophelia interrupts at Knockdara Church. Emmett Scanlan as Michael in The Deceived. 
Paul Mescal as Sean in The Deceived. 
Ophelia and Michael meeting for the first time at the University of Cambridge English Faculty. Pictured: Emmett Scanlan as Michael and Emily Reid as Ophelia in The Deceived. 
Ophelia and Michael meeting for the first time at the University of Cambridge English Faculty. Pictured: Emmett Scanlan as Michael and Emily Reid as Ophelia in The Deceived. 
Ophelia and Michael meeting for the first time at the University of Cambridge English Faculty Pictured: Emmett Scanlan as Michael and Emily Reid as Ophelia in The Deceived. 
Michael and Mary attend a funeral which Ophelia interrupts at Knockdara Church in The Deceived. PIctured: Emily Reid as Ophelia in The Deceived. 
Michael shows Ophelia around the House at Knockdara and introduces her to Sean, the builder. The House at Knockdara in The Deceived. Pictured: Emily Reid as Ophelia in The Deceived. 
Ophelia watches Michael deliver a lecture. The University of Cambridge English Faculty. Pictured: Emily Reid as Ophelia and Ciara Berkeley as Lucy in The Deceived. 
Michael and Mary attend a funeral which Ophelia interrupts at Knockdara Church in The Deceived. Emmett Scanlan as Michael. 
Ophelia has her first tutorial with Michael at St Luke’s College, Cambridge. Pictured: Emmett Scanlan as Michael in The Deceived. 
Sean offers Ophelia a lift in Knockdara Village. Pictured: Emily Reid as Ophelia and Paul Mescal as Sean in The Deceived. 
Ophelia attends a drinks party when Michael, Roisin and their friends arrive at Cambridge College. Pictured: Catherine Walker as Roisin and Emmett Scanlan as Michael in The Deceived. 
Ophelia attends a drinks party when Michael, Roisin and their friends arrive. Pictured: Catherine Walker as Roisin in The Deceived. 
Pictured: (L-R) Emily Reid as Ophelia, Emmett Scanlan as Michael and Catherine Walker as Roisin in The Deceived.
The Deceived begins Monday, August 3rd, 2020 on Channel 5 at 9:00pm
