‘You don't see the twists coming!'

Friends Rachael Stirling and Anna Maxwell Martin on reuniting to play seemingly perfect sisters...

- ELAINE REILLY

How far would you go to protect your child if you thought they’d committed a crime? This is the question at the heart of Hollington Drive, a glossy new thriller starting on ITV this week.

The four-parter sees actors Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland) and Rachael Stirling (Life), who previously starred together in ITV’s The Bletchley Circle, play sisters and pillars of the community Theresa and Helen, who live in picture-perfect homes on the same suburban street.

But the siblings’ seemingly idyllic worlds are torn apart when they suspect that their children are involved in the disappearance of a local 10-year-old, Alex...

During a break from filming in Wales, Anna and Rachael, both 44, called TV Times for a video chat to tell us more…

How would you describe Theresa and Helen’s relationship?

ANNA Their lives are totally intertwined. They are like twins, but with completely opposite personalities. You sense that others just aren’t as important to them as they are to one another.

RACHAEL Helen is the front footed, driving sister. She’s very responsible and organised, and marshals Theresa’s chaos.