Peace shattered. Friendships fractured. Welcome to The Feud, Channel 5’s gripping new suburban drama premiering April 7, 2025, where a seemingly innocuous home extension sparks a full-blown war between neighbours. Set on the picture-perfect (but deceptively tense) Maplewood Avenue, this six-part series explores how quickly civility crumbles when property lines—and moral boundaries—are crossed. With a stellar British ensemble cast and razor-sharp writing, The Feud delivers equal parts dark comedy and psychological tension, asking: How well do you really know the people next door?

Leading the charge are Jill Halfpenny (Waterloo Road, The Drowning) and Rupert Penry-Jones (Whitechapel, Spooks) as Emma and John Barnett, the couple whose dream renovation unleashes chaos. They’re joined by Ray Fearon (The Bay, Beauty and the Beast) and Amy Nuttall (Emmerdale, Downton Abbey) as the Spences, their increasingly hostile neighbours. From passive-aggressive garden confrontations to shocking acts of sabotage, The Feud is Neighbours meets War of the Roses—with a very British twist.

The Feud: Full Cast

1- Jill Halfpenny as Emma Barnett

Jill Halfpenny brings nuanced depth to Emma Barnett, the well-intentioned schoolteacher whose simple home renovation plans unleash neighborhood chaos. Halfpenny expertly portrays Emma’s journey from optimistic homeowner to increasingly paranoid defender of her family’s space, particularly in scenes where she confronts hostile neighbors while trying to maintain her professional composure. Her performance captures the quiet desperation of someone watching their dream turn into a nightmare over what should have been a routine construction project.

Off-screen, Halfpenny researched real-life boundary disputes to inform her portrayal, citing cases where “perfectly normal people became consumed by arguments over inches of property line.” Watch for her powerful Episode 3 monologue at a neighborhood BBQ, where years of repressed suburban frustrations erupt in a wine-fueled tirade that changes the dynamics of the entire street.

2-  Rupert Penry-Jones as John Barnett

Rupert Penry-Jones delivers a layered performance as John Barnett, Emma’s architect husband whose modern extension design becomes the flashpoint for community outrage. Penry-Jones masterfully shows John’s transformation from charming professional to increasingly desperate man, particularly in cringe-worthy attempts to bond with furious neighbor Alan (Ray Fearon) over cricket that only escalate tensions. His character’s architectural idealism slowly curdles into something darker as the feud intensifies.

The actor’s chemistry with Halfpenny grounds their marital relationship in authenticity, especially as cracks begin to show under pressure. Penry-Jones notes that John represents “the danger of assuming good intentions will be enough,” with his character’s privileged blind spots making him both sympathetic and frustrating in equal measure.

3- Ray Fearon as Alan Spence

Ray Fearon is electrifying as Alan Spence, the retired police officer who becomes the militant leader of the anti-extension campaign. Fearon imbues Alan with simmering intensity, expertly balancing the character’s principled stance with hints of deeper psychological motivations tied to his need for control. His physical confrontations with John Barnett (particularly the boundary marker incident in Episode 4) showcase Fearon’s ability to project barely-contained rage.

Fearon based his performance on real community activists, observing how “righteous causes can bring out both the best and worst in people.” His dynamic with Amy Nuttall’s Sonia adds marital complexity, as Alan’s campaign begins damaging their relationship along with neighborhood peace.

4- Amy Nuttall as Sonia Spence

Amy Nuttall brings heartbreaking vulnerability to Sonia Spence, the hospice nurse caught between loyalty to her husband and sympathy for the Barnetts. Nuttall shines in quiet moments, like when she anonymously gifts Emma houseplants (later destroyed in an act of vandalism), showing Sonia’s internal conflict through subtle gestures. Her character’s journey from peacemaker to reluctant combatant forms the series’ emotional backbone.

Nuttall’s real-life nursing experience informed Sonia’s compassionate yet weary demeanor, particularly in scenes where she struggles to reconcile her professional kindness with Alan’s growing militancy. The actress notes that Sonia represents “how easily good people can become complicit in bad behavior.”

5- Alex Macqueen as Nick Hewitt

Alex Macqueen steals every scene as Nick Hewitt, the street’s gin-fueled busybody who documents the feud via drone with voyeuristic glee. Macqueen’s impeccable comic timing turns what could be a caricature into a surprisingly complex figure, especially when Nick’s footage unexpectedly becomes crucial legal evidence. His drunken commentary provides much-needed levity amidst the escalating drama.

The actor drew inspiration from real-life neighborhood gossips, creating a character who is both hilarious and uncomfortably recognizable. Macqueen improvised many of Nick’s best lines, including his running commentary on the feud’s developments that serves as the audience’s Greek chorus.

6- James Fleet as Derek Abshire

James Fleet delivers a poignant performance as Derek Abshire, the elderly resident whose dementia symptoms inadvertently escalate tensions. Fleet brings heartbreaking authenticity to Derek’s confusion, particularly in scenes where he “borrows” tools not realizing he’s crossing battle lines. His character becomes an unwitting pawn in the feud, with Fleet balancing humor and pathos perfectly.

The veteran actor researched dementia behaviors extensively, creating a portrayal that avoids clichés. Fleet’s real-life chemistry with Tessa Peake-Jones (as wife Barbara) adds depth to their characters’ storyline, especially as Barbara’s protective instincts turn vengeful.

7- Tessa Peake-Jones as Barbara Abshire

Tessa Peake-Jones is terrifyingly brilliant as Barbara Abshire, whose sweet grandmotherly facade gives way to shocking ruthlessness after her prize hydrangeas become collateral damage. Peake-Jones slowly peels back Barbara’s civility to reveal a woman capable of shockingly petty vengeance, culminating in a memorable “Fatal Attraction with gardening shears” moment.

The actress found inspiration in news stories about normally law-abiding citizens committing bizarre acts of property revenge. Peake-Jones particularly relished Barbara’s darkly comic moments, noting “there’s something delicious about a pensioner declaring war over petunias.”

8- Jamie-Lee O’Donnell as PC Gallagher

Jamie-Lee O’Donnell brings her signature sharp wit to PC Gallagher, the exasperated local officer caught between professional duty and personal opinions about the feud. O’Donnell delivers the series’ best one-liners with perfect timing, particularly when dismissing absurd complaints from both sides. Her character serves as the audience’s voice of reason amidst the madness.

The actress drew on her Derry Girls experience to create a cop who’s both competent and hilariously blunt. O’Donnell particularly enjoyed scenes where Gallagher subtly roots for the Barnetts while maintaining professional neutrality.

9- Larry Lamb as Terry Dobson

Larry Lamb is chilling as Terry Dobson, the shady builder playing both sides of the conflict. Lamb brings folksy menace to the role, especially in Episode 5 where Terry’s true loyalties are revealed through a botched “accident.” His character represents the dark underbelly of the construction world that feeds on neighborhood disputes.

The veteran actor based Terry on real rogue tradesmen he’d encountered, creating a villain who’s believably charming yet dangerous. Lamb particularly relished Terry’s manipulative monologues about “the way things really work” in local politics.

10- Chris Gascoyne as Lee Hatby

Chris Gascoyne delivers a powerhouse performance as Lee Hatby, Alan Spence’s estranged brother whose return exposes a violent family history. Gascoyne brings unpredictable energy to every scene, forcing Alan to confront the trauma behind his territorial obsession. Their climactic confrontation is one of the series’ most emotionally raw moments.

The actor researched sibling rivalries and inherited trauma to create Lee’s complex psychology. Gascoyne notes that Lee represents “the past Alan’s been running from,” with their scenes together crackling with decades of unresolved tension.

11- Joel Beckett as Ian Casey

Joel Beckett is hilariously smarmy as Ian Casey, the Barnetts’ spectacularly incompetent lawyer. Beckett steals every scene with his character’s cringe-worthy attempts to mediate the conflict through canapés and corporate platitudes. Ian’s professional blunders inadvertently escalate the feud to new heights.

The actor modeled Ian on real-life encounters with overconfident professionals out of their depth. Beckett particularly enjoyed improvising Ian’s increasingly desperate attempts to sound authoritative as situations spiral out of control.