From murder, suicide to affairs… we recap the first series of Doctor Foster — and lift the lid on explosive and bloody second series about cheated-on GP
MORE than ten million people saw Suranne Jones’s brilliant turn as troubled medic Gemma in the critically acclaimed TV drama Doctor Foster in 2015.
The nation was gripped by the Bafta-winning actress’s portrayal of the GP who discovers that her husband Simon – played by Bertie Carvel – has been playing away with a younger woman.
But it is easy to have lost track of the multi-award-winning BBC1 show’s twists and turns after two years since it was screened. So on the eve of the drama’s long-awaited return, we recap that gripping first series – and takes a peek at what you can expect in the new episodes.
The story so far
The initial suspicions
ALTHOUGH at first Gemma seems to have it all, with a perfect marriage, a young son and a lovely home, her world is rocked when she discovers a long blonde hair on husband Simon’s scarf and a pink lip balm in his pocket.
The list of potential suspects is as long as her arm but then, at his 40th birthday party, she finds a second mobile phone in his car boot on which are photos of him with 23-year-old Kate Parks, played by Jodie Comer – the blonde daughter of local businessman Chris Parks.
She packs his bags but when he doesn’t take the hint she cooks up a plan to try to catch him out.
World and his wife knows
WHEN Gemma confides in her colleague and old school pal Ros about what she has found out, it turns out Ros has known for three months.
And after going through the contents of Simon’s phone, Gemma realises that their neighbours Neil and Anna also know about the affair, as does Simon’s PA, Becky.
Gemma starts to lose it
GEMMA uses her position at work to swap patients so she can treat her husband’s mistress Kate – who she discovers is pregnant.
She then confronts Simon about the affair but he denies it, which enrages her further. So she beds their married neighbour, accountant Neil, so she can blackmail him and gain access to her and Simon’s accounts without Simon finding out.
She discovers his property development project is all over the shop and that he has raided their savings and forged her signature to remortgage the house without her knowledge. A secret investor had been backing his building project to the tune of millions of pounds.
Things take a tragic turn
SIMON’S mother Helen who, it turns out, had known about the affair for two years, dies after taking an overdose of sleeping pills – and Gemma is briefly accused of killing her.
She and Simon split and get in touch with a divorce lawyer, but then they decide to try to make it work.
However when an online troll gets Gemma suspended from work and Simon’s relationship with Kate continues, it all gets too much and Gemma tries to kill herself by walking into the sea.
That dinner scene
GEMMA arranges for her and Simon to go to dinner at Kate’s wealthy parents’ house, where she breaks the news of Simon and Kate’s affair, and the pregnancy which she thought Kate had terminated. It causes a giant row and an amazing scene in which Kate slaps Gemma. Simon’s mysterious wealthy backer is revealed to be Kate’s father, who illegally pulled strings at the council to enable Simon to buy the site for his work project.
All hell breaks loose
GEMMA discovers Kate is still pregnant, and blackmails her father to make him stop funding Simon’s business and pay back her savings and the mortgage.
In a cruel twist, one morning before school she sends her and Simon’s son, Tom, to Kate’s house, so that he finds his dad in bed with the other woman. Later Gemma picks him up from school and drives him to a remote location where it is made to look as though she may have killed him in an act of mad revenge on Simon.
She hasn’t, and Tom is safe, but in the ensuing argument Simon hits her, causing heavy bleeding.
The aftermath
SIMON gets a restraining order for attacking Gemma. Months later, series one’s final scene sees her walking through town with Tom, telling a patient she is no longer Dr Foster. She finalises her divorce and runs into heavily pregnant Kate who tells her she is moving to London.
Two years on, Gemma is still working as a doctor, wearing the same old clothes and sticking to her same routine, and Simon is back – with baby and new wife in tow. And their son Tom is still caught in the middle of two warring parents . . .
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What's in store...
Simon is back
SIMON returns after the drama’s two-year break, now married to his former mistress and with a baby to care for too.
Gemma’s now ex-husband sends her a courtesy text to let her know he is back, and tells her where they will be living.
Of course, Gemma can’t resist going to have a look and soon ends up inside his house – just as he arrives home.
Has Gemma moved on?
NEVER having been one for respecting the boundaries between her professional and private life, Gemma starts dating one of her patients. She goes out to dinner with hunky James, played by Prasanna Puwanarajah and it’s not long before he is introduced to her ex.
For a doctor, Gemma’s not exactly a quick learner.
Another big party
JUST as in series one, the start of series two revolves around a big party – but this time Gemma is not invited.
Soon after Simon’s return to the town with new wife Kate an envelope is slipped through Gemma’s door inviting their son Tom to a wedding/housewarming party at his swanky new gaff.
Initially Tom doesn’t want to go, but eventually heads to his dad’s for some under-age drinking and drama.
Is there still a spark?
GEMMA can’t leave her ex- husband alone and goes out of her way to “bump into” him.
At one point in episode one she ends up in his house – and even his bedroom – and he returns the favour by turning up unannounced in her kitchen. But Gemma’s love for Simon is long gone, replaced by a deep, dark hatred.
In episode one of the new series, she asks him outright if he still finds her attractive, and his, er, body gives away his answer.
Will Simon be most hated man in Britain?
ALTHOUGH Simon is the baddie of series one, the tide seems to be turning, with Gemma again losing her way in the second outing.
He appears to be happily moving on with his life, while she just can’t resist her old meddling ways.
Will someone die?
SERIES one looked like it was hurtling towards either Simon or Gemma ending up dead, and this series looks no different.
The clues are all there – a shot of someone carrying a knife in the trailer, a glimpse of Gemma with blood on her hand, and Simon telling her it was “good to know” the only way she was leaving town was in a coffin . . .