Forever Home (review)

Published by Mason Oldridge, 8 October 2026

Graham Norton’s thriller novel moves from Ireland to Northumberland as it is adapted for television.

Carol Crottie suspects that her older partner Robert Barrie, suffering from early-onset dementia, may have killed his first wife Joan, who supposedly ran off with Robert’s brother Neil 20 years ago, when she discovers a corpse in the cellar. The series also stars Carol’s parents Moira and Dave, who aid Carol in her own investigation, and Robert’s adult children Kaden and Sally. Kaden is an estate agent under financial pressure and grows suspicious of the surrogate mother carrying his and his partner’s baby, while Sally is having an affair with a married man and integrates herself into his family life.

The series is gripping and contains twists and turns throughout, notably revealing Joan is alive and the body is actually Neil and the reveal that it was Kaden who killed Neil to protect his mother after she discovered that he was sexually abusing Sally. Furthermore, the subplots of the siblings are entertaining too and, while they initially appear separate, they loosely tie in to the main plot as they can be seen as a representation of how their mother abandoning them as children led to them having emotional issues as adults.

However, the series’ downfall is the far-fetched elements that prompt reactions of disbelief. As if Kaden and Sally would decide to sell the house and place their father in care as soon as discovering his condition. As if Carol would move the body without Robert explaining what happened. As if she would continue to live there knowing that there is a corpse in the cellar. As if Moira would make light of the situation. As if they would dump the body in the river. As if Joan would leave her children to form part of an unnecessary cover story.

Douglas Henshall gives a strong performance as Robert goes from a suspected murderer to be feared in the first episode to someone lost to their illness that makes the ultimate sacrifice for his family by the end.

Forever Home outperforms the average Channel 5 drama, but would benefit from buffing out the ridiculousness around the edges.

7/10