Drama · Channel 4 / PBS Masterpiece · Limited Series
Trespasses
Trespasses follows Cushla Lavery (Lola Petticrew), a young Catholic schoolteacher and part-time barmaid in 1975 Northern Ireland, whose life is upended when she falls for Michael Agnew (Tom Cullen), an older, married Protestant barrister. Cushla's mother Gina (Gillian Anderson) warns her away from the relationship, but the pull between Cushla and Michael only grows as suspicion and violence close in around them, set against the real backdrop of the Troubles. Trespasses streams on PBS Passport and PBS Masterpiece in the US, having first aired on Channel 4 in the UK.
About the show
Trespasses is a four-part limited series adapted for television by Ailbhe Keogan (Bad Sisters) and directed by BAFTA winner Dawn Shadforth. It premiered on Channel 4 in the UK on November 9, 2025, and arrived on PBS Masterpiece in the US on September 20, 2026, with new episodes airing weekly through October 11. It's produced by Wildgaze Films, with Maria Mulhall producing and executive producers including author Louise Kennedy, Dawn Shadforth, Amanda Posey, Finola Dwyer, and Gillian Anderson, who also stars. The series won three awards at the 2026 Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs): Best Script for a Drama (Ailbhe Keogan), Lead Actress in a Drama (Lola Petticrew), and Makeup & Hair (Natalie Reid).
Where to watch in the US
PBS Masterpiece
4 episodes · Streaming since September 20, 2026 · Broadcast on PBS Sundays, Sept 20 – Oct 11, 2026
Watch on PBS Masterpiece →Streaming availability in the US can change. Check the linked service for current access. Checked October 2026.
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Books Behind the Series
Trespasses began as a novel, and knowing a little about it adds context to the series.
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
Louise Kennedy's 2022 debut novel follows Cushla Lavery through the same story the series tells: a young Catholic schoolteacher in 1970s Northern Ireland whose affair with an older, married Protestant barrister unfolds under the pressure of the Troubles. Kennedy, a chef-turned-writer from County Down, is an executive producer on the TV adaptation, which stays close to her source material.
New Viewer's Guide
A Four-Part Story, Best Watched in Order
Trespasses is a complete, self-contained story told across four episodes, not an ongoing series — there's no earlier season to catch up on, and no renewal to wait for. It's built to be watched start to finish in sequence, since each episode tightens the pressure on Cushla and Michael's relationship as it builds toward the finale.
What to Expect
Kept spoiler-light — no plot specifics beyond the setup.
A Slow-Burn Love Story With Real Stakes
Trespasses is a quiet, character-driven drama rather than a thriller — most of its tension comes from the gap between what Cushla and Michael want and what their circumstances, communities, and the political violence around them will allow. Expect a measured pace that builds pressure gradually across the four episodes rather than big twists.
Main Characters and Cast
Lola Petticrew
Cushla Lavery — a young Catholic schoolteacher and part-time barmaid whose affair with Michael sits at the centre of the story. Petticrew won the IFTA for Lead Actress in a Drama for the role. Also known for Say Nothing.
Tom Cullen
Michael Agnew — the older, married Protestant barrister whose relationship with Cushla drives the drama. Also known for playing Lord Gillingham in Downton Abbey and for Knightfall.
Gillian Anderson
Gina Lavery — Cushla's mother, a widow navigating her own difficulties while trying to steer her daughter away from danger. Anderson is also an executive producer on the series. Widely known for The X-Files, The Crown, and Sex Education.
Martin McCann
Eamonn Lavery — Cushla's brother. McCann is also known as Sergeant Stevie Neil on Blue Lights, and for the film '71.
Emily Taaffe & Barry Ward
Betty McGeown and Victor McIntyre — part of the wider ensemble around Cushla and Michael. Taaffe is also known for Vera and Patrick Melrose; Ward for Ripper Street and Jimmy's Hall.
Oisín Thompson, Lorcan Cranitch & More
The wider cast includes Oisín Thompson as Gerry Harkin, plus Lorcan Cranitch, Frank Blake, Gary Lydon, Lisa Dwyer Hogg, and Lalor Roddy, rounding out the Troubles-era Belfast setting.
What Makes the Series Special
Written With the Novelist on Board
Louise Kennedy, who wrote the original novel, is an executive producer on the series, and writer Ailbhe Keogan's adaptation stays close to the source material — a level of involvement from the author that's relatively rare in literary TV adaptations.
The Troubles, Told Through One Relationship
Rather than dramatizing the Troubles directly, Trespasses uses a fictional love story to show how the conflict reached into ordinary lives — a classroom, a family pub, a quiet affair — making the history feel personal rather than distant.
Award-Winning on Both Sides of the Camera
Trespasses won three 2026 IFTAs — Best Script for a Drama, Lead Actress in a Drama for Lola Petticrew, and Makeup & Hair — recognizing both the writing and the performances at the centre of the series.
Setting and Filming Locations
Belfast and Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Trespasses was filmed on location in Northern Ireland, including Belfast and Ballymena, with support from Northern Ireland Screen. Some pub scenes were shot at the Ladysmith Arms, a former Ballymena bar whose largely unchanged interior gave the production a ready-made 1970s look. Filming took place in autumn 2024.
Watch the Trailer
More Trailers on British TV Hub — Trailers & Previews →
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Trespasses have?
Trespasses is a four-episode limited series, telling one complete story rather than an ongoing show.
Where can I watch Trespasses in the US?
Trespasses streams on PBS Masterpiece in the US. All four episodes have been available to PBS Passport members since the September 20, 2026 premiere, with weekly broadcasts on PBS stations through October 11.
Is Trespasses based on a true story?
Cushla and Michael are fictional characters from Louise Kennedy's novel, not real people. But the series is set against the real historical backdrop of the Troubles in 1970s Northern Ireland.
When did Trespasses premiere in the UK?
Trespasses premiered on Channel 4 in the UK on November 9, 2025, nearly a year before it arrived on PBS Masterpiece in the US on September 20, 2026.
What awards has Trespasses won?
Trespasses won three awards at the 2026 Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs): Best Script for a Drama (Ailbhe Keogan), Lead Actress in a Drama (Lola Petticrew), and Makeup & Hair (Natalie Reid).
Where was Trespasses filmed?
It was filmed on location in Northern Ireland, including Belfast and Ballymena, with support from Northern Ireland Screen.
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