Conversations With Friends is bound to be a global hit, and is available around the world on BBC3, BBCiPlayer Hulu and Prime Video. Fans of the drama Normal People, which became a huge hit during lockdown in 2020, will be champing at the bit to get their teeth into Conversations With Friends, which is the BBC's latest adaptation of a Sally Rooney novel.
Normal People of course had viewers gripped by the ups and downs of Connell and Marianne’s love story and made huge stars of Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, and this new series promises to be just as compelling.
Once again exploring passion and sexuality, it follows Frances, played by Alison Oliver, who's best friends with her former lover Bobbi (Sasha Lane). The pals meet a married couple, journalist Melissa (Jemima Kirke) and actor Nick (Joe Alwyn), and find themselves drawn into relationships that test the fragile bonds of friendship and expose vulnerabilities Frances had no idea she possessed.
So here's everything you need to know about Conversations With Friends on BBC Three and Hulu...
Conversations With Friends release date
Conversations With Friends is a 12-part series that starts on BBC3 and BBC iPlayer in the UK in Sunday May 15 with the first two episodes on BBC Three at 10pm and 10.30pm, then run weekly. The 12-parter will be available as a box-set on BBCiPlayer. Each of the 12 episodes run for 30 minutes. Conversations With Friends also starts on Hulu in the US on Sunday, May 15 2022.
In Australia and New Zealand, Conversations With Friends will be available from Monday May 16 2022 on Prime Video.
Is there a trailer for Conversations With Friends?
Yes! An official trailer for Conversations With Friends has been released by the BBC and Hulu, and it features an original song from Phoebe Bridgers. It gives us our first glimpse at the romantic tension bubbling up between Frances and Nick after Frances and Bobbi first befriend the happy couple. Clearly, the struggle to keep their relationship under wraps will cause plenty of drama, as Melissa can be seen questioning Frances if there's anything going on, which there very clearly is if this sizzling trailer is anything to go by!
You can watch the full Conversations With Friends trailer below...
Conversations With Friends plot
In Conversations With Friends college student and aspiring writer Frances (Alison Oliver) has a special friendship with her former girlfriend Bobbi (Sasha Lane). The pair are inseparable and perform poetry together in Dublin. There, they are spotted by journalist Melissa (Jemima Kirke) who introduces them to her husband, actor Nick (Joe Alwyn). While Bobbi and Melissa openly flirt with one another, Frances finds herself unable to resist Nick and the pair begin a secret affair. This intense passion soon tests the bonds between Frances and Bobbi and forces Frances to reevaluate everything she thinks she knows.
Conversations With Friends cast — who plays who and interviews
Alison Oliver on playing Frances
Newcomer Alison Oliver takes on the role of smart, cool-headed student Frances. Previously she’s had roles in Fame Dogs, Woggie, and Home Brewed.
Alison says: "e Frances! She’s quite reserved. You’d probably have to chat to her for a bit to get her to open up! I wanted to do such a beloved book justice. It’s brilliant that Sally’s stories are being translated into a visual form and we can keep talking about them in a new way. Even when I was auditioning, I felt lucky to be seen. You never think it’s going to happen and I was completely shocked when it did!"
Joe Alwyn on playing Nick
Melissa’s handsome but reserved actor husband Nick is portrayed by Joe Alwyn.
Joe says: "This is a book I loved, as did so many. It’s a modern love story and it doesn’t give a conclusive answer to the questions Sally’s asking, and I like that messiness. I feel incredibly lucky to be on this journey. It’s exciting!"
Joe starred in The Favourite, alongside Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz. He also played Bob Cratchit in the TV miniseries A Christmas Carol and has appeared in Billy Lyn’s Long Halftime Walk and Mary Queen of Scots.
Sasha Lane is Bobbi
Sasha plays Bobbi, Frances’ former lover, and closest friend. She played Star in American Honey and has also had roles in Utopia, Loki, and The Miseducation of Cameron Post.
Jemima Kirke is Melissa
Journalist Melissa is played by Jemima Kirke, who is married to actor Nick. You may recognize as headteacher Hope Haddon in Sex Education. She’s also been in Girls, Maniac and Untogether.
More about Conversations With Friends author Sally Rooney
Conversations With Friends is the debut novel by Irish writer Sally Rooney. She also wrote Normal People, which was a huge success when it was adapted for television by Hulu and the BBC in 2020. Sally’s third novel is Beautiful World, Where Are You which was published last year. She’s also written short fiction and poetry.
