Channel 4 is preparing to launch Careless, a new four-part mystery thriller created by Louise Fox and Helen Fitzgerald. The series follows a Scottish backpacker who becomes a carer for an ageing rocker and his wife, hiding a dark secret that endangers them. Production is underway, with an expected air date later in 2026.
Careless centres on Robbie, a Scottish backpacker played by Solly McLeod, who arrives in Sydney, Australia, and secures a job as a live-in carer for Mike, a notorious rock'n'roll legend portrayed by Richard Roxburgh, who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. As Robbie integrates into the lives of Mike and his wife Angela, played by Robyn Malcolm, he becomes a trusted confidante. However, Robbie's past harbours an unsettling secret that poses serious danger to the couple.
The series is a collaboration between Easy Tiger Productions and Synchronicity Films, the teams behind Scrublands, Doctor Doctor, and The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Nine Entertainment’s Executive Director of Entertainment Content Commissioning, Michael Healy, described Careless as “a riveting and relentlessly compelling thriller” anchored by a remarkable cast. Polly Scates, Head of Acquisitions at Channel 4, praised its “pacy script, layered characters, and plenty of menace and intrigue,” noting it also explores how protective systems can fail people.
The cast includes Katie Leung from Bridgerton, Mabel Li from The Testaments, Thomas Weatherall from The Narrow Road to the Deep North, and Alison Peebles from Dept. Q. While no exact release date has been announced, the series is currently in production and slated for Channel 4 in 2026. It joins a wave of psychological thrillers, with Channel 4 highlighting its appeal through exceptional storytelling and a strong ensemble.