Little Disasters Cast and Characters: The Faces Behind the Paranoia

A seemingly perfect friendship among four mothers is shattered in a single moment, and a star-studded cast is at the center of the storm. The British psychological thriller Little Disasters, based on Sarah Vaughan’s novel, debuted in the UK earlier this year and is set to grip new audiences globally this month . The six-part Paramount+ series explores the devastating fallout when a child’s mysterious injury forces a doctor to choose between her friend and her duty. The story’s power comes from its ensemble of familiar and acclaimed actors, who bring a tense story of suspicion and crumbling trust to life.

The Mothers at the Heart of the Crisis

The story revolves around a tight-knit group of four women who met a decade ago in an antenatal class . Their bond, forged through shared anxieties about motherhood, is tested to its breaking point, and the actors portray a wide spectrum of maternal experience.

• Diane Kruger takes on the lead role of Jess Carrisford. On the surface, Jess is the ideal stay-at-home mother, but her life spirals when her baby daughter, Betsy, is brought to the hospital with an unexplained head injury . Kruger’s performance captures Jess’s love for her children, her profound exhaustion, and her growing fear and defensiveness as she becomes the central figure of suspicion.
• Jo Joyner portrays Dr. Liz Burgess, the A&E doctor and Jess’s friend who faces an impossible choice. When Jess brings Betsy into her hospital, Liz must decide whether to report the incident to social services . Joyner, widely recognized from EastEnders, embodies the conflict of a professional bound by oath and a friend bound by loyalty.
• Shelley Conn plays Charlotte, an ambitious lawyer who achieved partnership at a young age. As the upper-class, career-driven member of the group, her life becomes entangled in the legal and personal fallout of the crisis .
• Emily Taaffe rounds out the main friend group as Mel Quinn, described as the youngest of the mothers. She is called upon to help with Jess’s children as the situation worsens, all while dealing with troubles in her own home life .

The Husbands Caught in the Fallout

The ripples of the central incident extend deeply into the characters’ marriages, with the husbands’ roles adding layers of conflict, support, and doubt.

• JJ Feild plays Ed Carrisford, Jess’s husband. A businessman often absent due to long work hours, Ed must navigate the public scrutiny and fear that descends on his family while his wife is under suspicion .
• Ben Bailey Smith is Nick, Liz’s husband. His character shows how the doctor’s agonizing decision impacts her own family, as he grows increasingly concerned about how she is coping with the immense stress .
• Stephen Campbell Moore portrays Rob, Mel’s partner. An outspoken figure trying to build a record label, Rob’s actions and decisions contribute to the mounting tensions within the group .
• Patrick Baladi appears as Andrew, Charlotte’s lawyer husband. Representing the perfect professional power couple on the outside, Andrew’s decision to take on Jess’s case begins to expose cracks in his own marriage .

Behind the Scenes: The Creative Team

The series was adapted for television by Ruth Fowler, who also created the show, and co-writer Amanda Duke, based on Vaughan’s book . Icelandic director Eva Sigurðardóttir directed all six episodes, bringing a consistent visual style to the tense narrative . The production was handled by Roughcut Television in association with Fremantle, with filming taking place in Budapest and London in mid-2024 .

Global Release Schedule for Little Disasters

The series first premiered on Paramount+ in the United Kingdom and Ireland on May 22, 2025, with all six episodes released at once . For viewers in the United States and most other international markets, the complete series arrives on Paramount+ on Wednesday, December 11, 2025.

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