The Doctor Is Back

As the gripping drama Doctor Foster returns for its second series, Suranne Jones tells Gerard Gilbert about her work/ life balance and why the role is more important than the money

Suranne Jones is looking sharp and elegant in a dark blue trouser suit and heels – quite the TV star instead of the Ms Normal role that she is usually is cast. And nothing like her character, Gemma, in Doctor Foster. As Gemma’s ex-husband, Simon (played by Bertie Carvel) puts it bluntly at the start of the second series of BBC One hit drama: her wardrobe hasn’t changed or moved on in two years.

‘She’s embalmed,’ Suranne says of her GP character. The first series of Doctor Foster attracted 10 million viewers transfixed as married GP Gemma discovered that Simon was cheating on her and, worse still, that all her friends and neighbours seemed to know.

Now, two years later, divorced and getting on with her life as busy working mother of 15-year-old Tommy, Gemma is shocked to learn that Simon and Kate (Jodie Comer), the woman he had been philandering with, are not only newlywed and have bought a mansion in the neighbourhood, but intend to win custody of Tommy.

It’s not just female viewers that love Doctor Foster. ‘I was surprised that men enjoyed it as much,’ says Suranne. ‘But, why wouldn’t they? It’s a two-way relationship with a man and a woman.’

Suranne, 39, won a National Television Award and a Bafta for her performance in the first series – not bad for the Oldham-born actress who never went to drama school and who was considered to be finished as an actress after three years on Coronation Street.