House of Guinness stars to lead Channel 4 drama Close to Home from Normal People producers

The series is based on Michael Magee’s debut novel, which received the prestigious 2023 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and the Nero Prize for Debut Fiction 2024.

Billed as a “striking tale of love, trauma and finding your place in the scarred city you call home,” the series follows Sean, a young man who returns to Belfast from university and reverts to old habits.

The synopsis continues: “Back on the mad all-nighters, the borrowed tenners and missing rent, the casual jobs that always fall through. Back with his brother, his ma and all the things they never talk about. Back where the promised prosperity of peacetime has yet to arrive and every street has a story to tell.

“One night, Sean assaults a stranger at a party and everything is tipped into chaos.”

The show promises to explore the “reckless decadence of youth” and to celebrate a “generation growing up in the wake of the troubles”. 

Anthony Boyle (Say Nothing, House of Guinness) leads the cast as Sean, alongside Jessica Reynolds (A Woman of Substance, House of Guinness) as Mairéad, Seamus O’Hara (House of Guinness, Say Nothing) as Anthony and Oisín Thompson (Trespasses) as Ryan.

It’s safe to say that fans of the novel are counting down the days until the adaptation comes to Channel 4. 

Reacting to the announcement on Instagram, one person wrote: “Oh I am super excited for this one. Great book, great cast,” while another added: “Omg so excited for this what a great book and fantastic cast!!”

Channel 4 has yet to announce a release date. With filming set to begin this month in Belfast, we’d speculate that the show won’t be released until late 2026 at the earliest.