With The Iris Affair launching this week, we had the pleasure of sitting down with it’s two leading stars, Niamh Algar & Tom Hollander, as well writer extraordinaire Neil Cross (Luther) to discuss this riveting new series.
Algar and Hollander talk about the confidence that comes from partnering with a proven creator, how Cross writes “as you go” and shapes scenes around actors, the puzzle-box nature of Iris and Cameron, and the joys (and hazards!) of shooting in Italy — from cacio e pepe to continuity-busting toasties.
Meanwhile, Cross opened up about the sun-soaked setting of Italy, his fascination with puzzles, and why casting Algar and Hollander felt like creative fate. He revealed that the decision to set the series in Italy came from “aging bones” and a desire to make something both glamorous and enjoyable, while also reflecting on how great actors can completely redefine characters on the page. You can watch both interviews in their entirety below.
Tom Hollander & Niamh Algar
Neil Cross
Plot
When enigmatic genius Iris Nixon (Algar) cracks a string of complex online puzzles, she’s led to a piazza in Florence where she meets charismatic entrepreneur Cameron Beck (Hollander). He invites her to come and work for him to unlock a powerful and top-secret piece of technology. Her curiosity piqued, she accepts. But when Iris discovers its dangerous potential, she steals the journal containing the device’s activation sequence—and vanishes. What follows is a relentless pursuit, from a remote cabin in Sardinia through the bustling streets of Rome, as Cameron races to find Iris in a high-stakes game where trust is dangerous and failure could be catastrophic.
The Iris Affair is available from Thursday October 16 on Sky and streaming service NOW.
