Viewers binge-watch 'gripping' new 6-part thriller Coldwater after 'intense' 1st episode


Andrew Lincoln makes his long-awaited return to British drama with ITV's Coldwater, which is billed as a "twisted thriller about an ordinary man who finds himself in an extraordinary situation". Indira Varma, Ewan Bremner and Eve Myles also star


two men standing in living room© Mark Mainz
Nicky MorrisActing TV and Film Editor
September 15, 2025
Share this:

Looking for a new thriller series to binge-watch? Viewers are loving ITV's new six-parter, Coldwater, and it could be one to add to your watchlist this week. Andrew Lincoln, who makes his long-awaited return to British drama with the series, stars as middle-aged, stay-at-home dad John, who moves his family from London to rural Scotland following an altercation in a playground. It's not long before he meets neighbour Tommy, who, on the surface, appears to be a charming pillar of the community, but is harbouring horrifying secrets.

Having already tuned into the first two episodes, I can safely say that the series will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Andrew Lincoln makes a triumphant return to British screens in this twisty and dark thriller and is compelling as John, a man forced to confront his guilt and trauma, while Ewen Bremner is brilliantly creepy as neighbour Tommy.

© Mark Mainz, Instagram/ITV
Andrew Lincoln stars as John in Cold Water

Keep reading to find out what viewers have said about the show, plus everything you need to know before tuning in, from the plot to the cast list and more.

What are viewers saying about Coldwater?

Viewers have praised the series as "brilliant" and "gripping" on social media, with some binge-watching all six episodes on ITX. One person wrote: "Binged all the episodes of #Coldwater and it was gripping! The cast were incredible," while another added: "Just finished binge watching #Coldwater, talk about a psycho next door neighbour. Great from start to finish. First time I have seen #AndrewLincoln since he was in #TheWalkingDead. Top marks to the guy playing Tommy!"

WATCH: The trailer for Coldwater

Meanwhile, other viewers praised the "strong" opening episode, with one person writing: "#Coldwater has been gripping so far. It's definitely one of my favourite Andrew Lincon performances since #TheWalkingDead!" A second person penned: "Wow, 21 minutes in and we are loving it!! It's gripping #Coldwater," while another agreed, adding: "What an intense first episode!"

© Instagram/ITV
Viewers praised the gripping series

What is Coldwater about? 

The series, which is billed as a "twisted thriller about an ordinary man who finds himself in an extraordinary situation", follows a man named John, who moves his family from London to the quiet town of Coldwater in Scotland after witnessing a horrifying attack in a playground near their home. Upon their arrival in Scotland, John quickly befriends neighbour Tommy, a pillar of the community and the husband of the local vicar, Rebecca. But when another terrifying ordeal leads him to turn to the wrong person, Andrew's life starts to spiral out of control. Who can he trust? 

All episodes are available to stream on ITVX

The synopsis reads: "John (Lincoln) secretly rages at his life as a middle-aged, stay-at-home dad. When his failure to intervene in a violent confrontation in a city playground brings his identity crisis to a head, John moves his family to the rural idyll of Coldwater. On arrival, he is befriended by neighbour Tommy (Bremner), a charming, confident pillar of the community. John is impressed by Tommy. However, he is blissfully unaware that Tommy is harbouring horrifying secrets. When John's long-repressed rage finally explodes with disastrous results, he finds himself unexpectedly indebted to his new friend. But how long will it take for him to figure out just how dangerous Tommy really is?"

Who stars in Coldwater? 

Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead, Love Actually) leads the cast as John, opposite Indira Varma (Game of Thrones, This Way Up) as Fiona, Ewan Bremner (Trainspotting, Snatch) as Tommy and Eve Myles (Torchwood, Keeping Faith) as Rebecca. They're joined by Lois Chimimba (A Discovery of Witches, Vigil) as Catriona, Samuel Bottomley (The Teacher, Ackley Bridge) as Cameron and Abigail Lawrie (Tin Star, Strike, No Escape) as Moira-Jane.

© Instagram/ITV
Indira Varma plays Fiona

Five more thrillers to watch this autumn...

1/5

© Christopher Raphael/Prime

Olivia Cooke and Robin Wright play enemies

The Girlfriend – Amazon Prime

Laura (Robin Wright) has a picture-perfect life with her husband, Howard, and their son, Daniel. However, everything changes when Daniel brings home a new girlfriend, Cherry (Olivia Cooke). Laura believes Cherry is a manipulative liar – but there are two sides to every story. Who is telling the truth?

2/5

© Des Willie/Netflix

Suranne Jones excels in the role of the leading lady

Hostage – Netflix

In this political miniseries, Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) is the Prime Minister of the UK. Panic erupts when her husband is kidnapped. Across the Channel, French President Vivienne Toussaint is being blackmailed. Both leaders are ultimately forced to make an impossible decision.

3/5

© James Stack / Channel 4 / World Productions

The series originally aired on Channel 4.

The Gathering – Netflix

A teenager is found unconscious after a beach rave. As police begin investigating the gymnastics circle, they uncover class divides, broken trust and fierce ambition – casting suspicion across the Merseyside community.

4/5

© Photo: Netflix

Jamie Dornan gives a chilling performance

The Fall – BBC iPlayer

Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan) appears to be a devoted family man, but by night he is a serial killer targeting young working women. Detective Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) takes over the case and soon realises a deadly murderer is on the loose. Will her past collide with her present?

5/5

© Apple TV+

Who should be believed?

Suspicion – ITVX

When four ordinary Brits are accused of kidnapping the son of a U.S. media mogul, they must embark on a desperate mission to prove their innocence. But are they really telling the truth?

All episodes of Coldwater are available to stream on ITV

Sign up to HELLO TV & Film for the week's top talking points and the lowdown on the latest releases

Email Address

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More TV and Film
See more