The Night Caller is a tense Channel 5 thriller series that sees former Hustle star Robert Glenister play a taxi driver Tony with an unhealthy obsession. The disillusioned cab driver from Liverpool listens to a late-night radio talk show fronted by a DJ called Lawrence, played by Sean Pertwee, as he ferries passengers across the city. But when Tony becomes "a friend of the show" he starts to interpret Lawrence’s views in dangerous ways, until he realises the DJ isn’t quite the man he thought he was. Former Casualty star Suzanne Packer plays café-worker Rose, who Tony becomes attached to.
Previously, when this series was announced by Channel 5 it was called Black Cab, then Stalker, and it does sound a little like Robert de Niro's 1976 classic movie Taxi Driver, but without the guns! Now here's everything you need to know about The Night Caller...
The Night Caller release date
The Night Caller is a four-part series that starts on Channel 5 on Sunday July 7 2024 at 9pm, with the next three episodes running on subsequent nights at the same time until Wednesday July 10. Once an international or US air date or channel is known we'll update here. All episodes will also become available on streaming service My5. Check out our best Channel 5 dramas guide for more shows to enjoy.
How to watch The Night Caller online and on TV
Is there a trailer for The Night Caller?
Not yet if Channel 5 releases a The Night Caller trailer, we’ll post it up on this page.
The Night Caller plot
The Night Caller follows Tony (Robert Glenister), a 50-something, lonely Liverpudlian taxi driver who used to be a respected teacher but lost his job, his marriage and his confidence. His only lifelines are Rosa, a café worker, and a late-night talk show he listens to as he drives his customers around. The show is fronted by DJ Lawrence (Sean Pertwee) and one day Tony finds the courage to call in. He becomes a ‘friend of the show’ which gives him a sense of identity for the first time in years. But eventually he starts to interpret Lawrence’s views in dangerous ways and becomes obsessed with their relationship. Then, Tony realises Lawrence isn’t the man he pretends to be.
The Night Caller cast — Robert Glenister on playing Tony
in The Night Caller, Robert Glenister plays the obsessive cab driver Tony from Liverpool. He says: “I’m delighted to be working with Story films on Nick’s (writer Nick Saltrese) terrific drama, and to be reunited with the wonderful Suzanne Packer and Sean Pertwee.
"Tony is an ex-teacher who lost his job and family following a major trauma,’ explains Sherwood star Robert. ‘The career he was so passionate about and respected for has gone and now he’s lonely, vulnerable and making ends meet by driving passengers round Liverpool. Tony is beguiled by DJ Lawrence and feels like he’s found a genuine friend in him.
"Something just flips in Tony. Lawrence’s words have got inside his head and he does something terrible that isn’t premeditated but which changes everything. I don’t think viewers will anticipate some of the twists in store. Expect the unexpected!"
* Robert Glenister, who is the brother of fellow actor Philip Glenister, also played Ash Morgan in the popular BBC series Hustle and Home Secretary Nicholas Blake in Spooks. Robert starred in Appropriate Adult, Sherwood, Suspicion, Cold Feet and Strike.
Sean Pertwee as Lawrence
Sean Pertwee plays late-night talk show host Lawrence in The Night Caller. Sean is the son of the late actor Jon Pertwee (Doctor Who, Worzel Gummidge) but has impressive acting credentials of his own. He’s starring in the latest series of the hit Netflix thriller YOU and has also starred in Silent Witness, Gotham, The Pale Horse, Cold Feet, Luther and Death In Paradise.
Suzanne Packer as Rosa
Suzanne Packer plays café worker Rosa in The Night Caller who is Tony's confidante. Suzanne of course played Tess Bateman in Casualty and has also starred in Midsomer Murders, Silent Witness, Keeping Faith, In My Skin and The ABC Murders.
The Night Caller episode guide
Here's out guide to the four episodes of The Night Caller...
Episode 1
Tony Conroy, a once highly regarded science teacher, now works the night shift as a black cab driver in the busy streets of Liverpool. He has no family and lives a solitary life drifting through the monotony of picking up and dropping off passengers of varying degrees of sobriety, night in and night out. The only respite from his lonely insular life are his visits to a night cafe, swimming lengths at the local pool and tuning into a late-night radio show, NightTalk.
One night whilst driving Tony is recognised by a former teaching colleague who notes that Tony was treated unfairly in his dismissal from work. The air is thick with tension as Tony sits in awkward silence. We get the sense something happened at school, something that deeply troubles Tony and may explain why he’s become ostracised from the world.
After the uncomfortable conversation with his former colleague, Tony feels a desperate need to talk to someone. With great apprehension, he braces himself and calls NightTalk, the radio talk show. To his surprise he is put straight on air with the host Lawrence Brightway. Tony confides how he feels like a man who’s been consigned to the scrapheap of life. Lawrence tries to understand and empathise. In Tony's mind, he and Lawrence have formed an instant bond. For the first time in ages Tony feels heard and it brings huge relief.
At the night cafe, Tony's night takes a turn when a fellow cabbie ROB, an ex-soldier, tells him that ROSA who works at the cafe is quite keen on him. Tony goes to chat to Rosa and, as he does, he hears Lawrence’s late night talk show playing in the background. Lawrence name checks 'Tony the ex-teacher' saying he made a lot of sense when he called in earlier. Buoyed by this affirmation, Tony tells Rosa he can help her with her evening classes as he was a former science teacher. Rosa thinks that’s a great idea and asks him out.
Tony is invigorated by the prospect of a budding romance with Rosa but is disturbed when he meets her abusive ex, Ste. He witnesses Ste confronting her aggressively outside the night cafe and feels an urge to protect her. This impulse is strengthened by the words of Lawrence who's recently been talking on his show about how communities need to look after one another. At this moment we start to see how Lawrence’s worlds are beginning to have a direct influence on Tony.
Tony’s calls to NightTalk become more frequent. In Lawrence, he has finally found someone he can be honest with and confide in. Lawrence is becoming a significant part in Tony’s life and he seems to take Lawrence’s words as gospel.
By chance, Ste gets into Tony’s cab one night. As Ste talks to someone on his phone, it becomes clear to Tony that Ste has plans to harm Rosa - this is his payback for her dumping him. Tony drops Ste off in town and tries to call Rosa to warn but he can’t reach her. He drives to the café and sees she’s not working that night either. Tony starts to think the worst and drives around the area where he dropped off Ste, looking for him or Rosa. As he patrols the streets NightTalk plays in the cab and Lawrence is in a particularly vitriolic mood as he hosts a discussion about bravery and standing up to bullies.
Lawrence’s anger seems to imbue Tony and when he finally spots Ste a last-minute decision ensures Tony’s life will never be the same again.
Episode 2
The awful realisation of what Tony has done starts to dawn on him. He goes into survival mode and tries to cover up the horror of the previous night. He goes to the night café where he meets Rob and asks for help, but does Rob know what Tony has done? Reluctantly, Rob tells Tony that he knows someone who can help him out. We get the sense that Rob knows more than he’s letting on.
Meanwhile, Ste is in hospital. On Lawrence’s radio show NightTalk, the incident is big news. It becomes clear that Ste Murray is a well-known local criminal in Liverpool with convictions for violence. A heated discussion follows, about 'taking the law into your own hands’ and several callers claim that Ste got what he deserved. As Tony listens, he gradually feels bolstered by the callers and somehow starts to reconcile the awful thing he’s done. The next day the police arrive at Tony’s home to question him as his cab was spotted on CCTV around the area, Tony seemingly wriggles out of it however DS Marshall isn’t fully convinced.
Rosa and Tony have dinner when Rosa remarks that although Ste was a terrible man, he doesn’t deserve what’s happened to him. She begins to question Tony about the night he picked up Ste. He gets increasingly uncomfortable as Rosa probes, so much so he has to excuse himself and goes to the bathroom to try and calm down. Tony attends a book launch by Lawrence who is promoting his new book, Listen. Lawrence always purports to be a man of the people, listening and absorbing the city’s needs and worries. But for the first time he would like his listeners to hear him. He reads an extract from his book which reveals he is battling cancer.
We see that Tony’s attachment to Lawrence has grown into something far bigger. As he listens, he feels Lawrence is talking directly to him, and that they are the only two people present. Tony is overcome and knows that his bond with Lawrence is now indelible. As Tony drives away he is subject to a violent ambush.
Episodes 3 and 4
We will update as the series progresses so do check back
Behind the scenes, locations and more on The Night Caller
The Night Caller was filmed in Ireland back in 2023, and was ordered for Channel 5 by Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5 and Paramount Plus. Executive Producers are Sam Tipper-Hale and David Nath for Story Films and David Collins for Samson Films.
Paul Testar says “I’m incredibly happy to be working with the talented team at Story Films, following the critically acclaimed Witness Number 3. With an exceptional cast, The Night Caller is a compelling addition to Channel 5’s original drama slate.”
Sam Tipper-Hale, Executive Producer, Story Films adds: “Nick Saltrese has created a timely and unique British thriller. The Night Caller explores the power of the modern-day, talk-show host when his words start to consume a man on the edge.”
