Episodes

1. Bad News

London, 1982. Patrick Melrose, 23 years old and in the grip of an all-consuming heroin addiction, flies to New York to collect his father's ashes.

2. Never Mind

France, 1967. During a hot summer's day at the Melrose chateau in Lacoste, 8-year old Patrick explores the grounds, a sanctuary of hiding places from the complex adult world.

3. Some Hope

England, 1990. Patrick Melrose, now 31, is finally clean and practicing law. Despite avoiding social situations and their inevitable temptations, Patrick is persuaded to attend a high society event in the Cotswolds by best friend Johnny.

4. Mother's Milk

France, 2003. Patrick, 44, is now married to Mary, with sons Robert and Thomas. Patrick may be off the heroin, but is back tackling his troubles with substance abuse.

5. At Last

London, 2005. Having always dreamed of being an orphan, Patrick now has his wish at the age of 46. No longer with Mary, Patrick is clean and living alone in a grim bedsit.

Overview

A critical and often humorous look at the upper class, tracking the protagonist's harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood through adult substance abuse and, ultimately, toward recovery.

Details

Cast

Benedict Cumberbatch

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Hugo Weaving

Sebastian Maltz

Jessica Raine