The Listeners is a 2024 miniseries based on the 2021 novel by Jordan Tannahill. It was released by BBC One on 19 November 2024.
Premise An English teacher Claire (Rebecca Hall) is tormented by a continuous humming noise that seemingly only a few people are able to hear. This premise is based on The Hum, a phenomenon that has been reported in several places around the world.
Cast and characters Source: Rebecca Hall as Claire Ollie West as Kyle Prasanna Puwanarajah as Paul, Claire's husband Amr Waked as Omar, facilitator of a support group for those who hear the Hum Gayle Rankin as Jo, Omar's wife and co-facilitator Mia Tharia as Ashley, Claire's daughter Franc Ashman as Cassandra, Claire's colleague Samuel Edward-Cook as Damian, a fellow listener Karen Henthorn as Emily, a fellow listener Lucy Sheen as Teresa, a fellow listener Ian Mercer as Tom, Emily's husband Scottee as Noam, a fellow listener Shreya M. Patel as Seema, a fellow listener Kiruna Stamell as Dr Broodthaers, Claire's therapist
Episodes
Production Jordan Tannahill adapted his own novel for television, with Janicza Bravo on board as director. Tannahill and Bravo are also executive producers on the series, along with Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann and Rachel Dargavel for Element Pictures, Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC, and Alice Birch. The series is produced by Ed King.
In February 2024, Rebecca Hall was confirmed in the lead role. The cast also includes Ollie West, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Amr Waked, Gayle Rankin and Mia Tharia.
Filming took place in Manchester and first look images from filming were released in February 2024.
Broadcast The series was screened at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, in the Primetime program, and broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 19 November 2024. Starz acquired the series for the United States, where it premiered on 12 June 2026.
The series released on Australian streaming services Binge and Foxtel On Demand, this version was recut with extra scenes into five episodes instead of the original four.
Reception The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 89% approval rating with an average rating of 7.20/10 based on 19 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Unfolding its mysteries at a patient pace, The Listeners beckons viewers to pay close attention -- which is made all the easier by Rebecca Hall's compelling presence". Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 73 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
The series received four-star reviews from The Times, The Guardian, the Daily Mail, the Financial Times, The Independent, and the Evening Standard, among others. Lucy Mangan in The Guardian called the series a "hauntingly delicate drama [that] will paralyse you with dread","The Listeners review - Rebecca Hall's hauntingly delicate drama will paralyse you with dread" The Guardian, November 19, 2024. while India Block in the Evening Standard described it as "a hallucinatory, nightmarish drama exploring mystery and conspiracy", and actress Rebecca Hall as "a revelation.""The Listeners on BBC One review: Rebecca Hall is a revelation as a woman pushed to the brink by 'the Hum'" Evening Standard, November 19, 2024. James Jackson in The Times wrote "the actors are impeccable throughout, none more so than Hall, who... in the throes of ecstatic ritual, seems to be staring directly into the fabric of the universe. The Listeners takes suburban ennui to a new level altogether.""The Listeners review — a primetime mystery with an ear for the profound" The Times, November 19, 2024. Asyia Iftikhar in Metro wrote "not only was this taut thriller one of the best written shows of the year, but, in an incredibly divided society, I can't help but think it is 2024's most important watch.""This under-the-radar BBC drama is the best thing I've seen this year" Metro, December 5, 2024.
References
External links The Listeners at BBC One