The Couple Next Door viewers brand swinging drama '95% gratuitous sex' as it returns for second season with 'unbelievably ridiculous' premiere

Daily Mail​

15-07-2025

The Couple Next Door viewers have branded the swinging drama '95% gratuitous sex' as it returned to our screens for its second season.
Series two of the psychological thriller, which is based on the Dutch TV show Nieuwe Buren, premiered on Monday night (July 14).
It comes two years after the first series aired on Channel 4 back in November 2023.
The programme, written by David Allison and directed by Dries Vos, stars Annabel Scholey, Sam Palladio, Aggy K. Adams, Sendil Ramamurthy, Hugh Dennis, Maimie McCoy, Adam James, Tanya Moodie, Jackie Clune and Barney White.
4OD's synopsis reads: 'The deliciously dark psychological drama returns, as mysterious new neighbour Mia arrives on the cul-de-sac, determined to work her way into the confidence - and the bed - of the couple next door...'
And while the first series was a huge hit, many fans have rushed to the internet to share their brutal opinions on the latest.
One said on X: 'Just watched the first two episodes of series 2, it's a dreadful, unbelievable storyline, it's ridiculous.
'After a first really good series this was a disappointment.'
'Five percent authentic story and ninety five percent gratuitous sex. A waste of time and energy.'
'This is woeful sh***, just as bad as the first series, even allowing for the titillating scenes which are just plain embarrassing.'
Meanwhile others have been very impressed with the new episodes.
'Season 2 is gooood, I can't stop watching atp.'
'This show is a masterpiece.'
'Been looking forward to this #TheCoupleNextdoor.'
Many viewers have rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts over the new series of The Couple Next Door
In the new series Annabel Scholey Annabel plays renowned heart surgeon Charlotte Roberts, who's happily married to consultant anaesthetist Jacob (Sam Palladio).
They seem to have a perfect life with busy careers, a large house, nice cars and a loving sex life.
But then a red-headed bombshell moves in next door. And patients suddenly start dying
Aggy K Adams stars as the mysterious new neighbour, Mia, a nurse who works at the same hospital. She's feisty, outspoken, refuses to obey the hospital hierarchy – and is stunningly beautiful.
Soon both Charlotte and Jacob find their worlds being turned upside down by her before Charlotte's millionaire celebrity doctor ex-boyfriend Leo (Sendhil Ramamurthy) re-enters her world.
'The great thing about turning 40 is that I find myself suddenly playing biochemists and heart surgeons, which is hilarious,' says Annabel, who's been acting since she was 13.
'One of the things I love most about my job is getting to experience different worlds, and to play Charlotte I went into an open-heart surgery theatre, which was mind-blowing.
'When I had to do it myself, the heart surgeon I'd been following was in there too, pretending to be learning from me.
'And what I also love about playing women of this age like Charlotte is that she's come to this point in her life where's she's thinking, 'What's next?' She's having a bit of a mid-life crisis. She's achieved everything she wants and then she goes on this journey which sees her unravel.
'As a 40-something woman, that's interesting. You've got to that age where you're confident, you know who you are, what you won't put up with any more. But then you suddenly think, 'What am I supposed to do now?'
'I can feel it myself – I've worked really hard since I left drama school and I feel like I'm not getting really great roles, but I keep thinking, 'What could be next?''
'The other thing about being in your 40s is when you look in the mirror you aren't necessarily at your peak any more, you start to see signs of ageing, and I love that Charlotte goes on a journey of sexual rediscovery.
'She's hidden that side of herself,her femininity, because she's atop surgeon in quite a masculine world and she's married to someone she's known since she was a student. She becomes awakened physically and mentally, which is really interesting.'
As on almost all shows with sexual content now, Annabel worked with an intimacy co-ordinator. She admits she's still getting used to it.
'I've done a lot of sex scenes in my career – I'm often cast in 'sexy' roles and I think because I used to dance for a long time, I'm quite comfortable in my body and the choreographing of these things.
'I've spoken to other actresses of my own age group and this intimacy co-ordinator thing has been a tricky transition for some of us because we were on our own for so long. But I feel like I'm really starting to get used to it, and actually it makes me feel sad we never had this before. There have been some tricky moments in the past.'