Synopsis: Set in London's elegant Claridge's hotel, Almost Strangers follows the peculiar and mysterious Symon family's three-day reunion. As the tangled roots of the Symon family tree unravel, Raymond (Michael Gambon), his wife Esther (Jill Baker) and their son, Daniel (Matthew Macfadyen) find themselves irresistibly drawn to their distant and not so distant relatives.

In Almost Strangers, writer-director Stephen Poliakoff mingles stories from the past and present to produce a revelatory piece of storytelling. When the Symon dynasty congregates for a huge reunion at a luxury London hotel, the event causes the unraveling of secrets and passions, which are buried deep within their shared clan history. It is an emotional and ultimately inspiring tale.

Almost Strangers hinges on the character of Daniel (Matthew Macfadyen), the only child of dysfunctional parents, Raymond (Michael Gambon) and Esther (Jill Baker). An innocent abroad at the grandiose reunion, he unearths aspects of his family he barely knew existed. Seduced by the glamour of this new world, he is recruited as a go-between for his alluring Aunt Alice (Lindsay Duncan) and his dazzling cousins, Rebecca (Claire Skinner) and Charles (Toby Stephens). But the drama becomes ever more complex as Daniel's best intentions soon start to go awry.

Acting as their guide is Stephen, the self-appointed 'pedigree-hunter' and archivist, who unravels their entwined stories to make sense of their personal histories. His extraordinary collection of family photographs sets off a series of discoveries, which are both mysterious and disturbing.

The Cast:
Layke Anderson as Heath
Gil Darnell as Grant
Ruth Posner as Mrs. Caulfield
Carol Hodge as Charlie
Harry Kent as Rock Boy
Claudia Coulter as Secretary
Andrew Dade as Doctor

Production Info:
Produced by: Katie Connor

Directed and written by: Sarah Walker

Airdates: