BBC The Listeners star issues warning about new drama 'It's not what you think'

Rebecca Hall, the star of BBC's new drama The Listeners, has offered a cautionary insight to audiences, suggesting that the show holds deeper layers than initially perceived.

The series, which premiered on BBC One this Tuesday, has already captured the attention of viewers with its gripping narrative centred around Claire Kutty, portrayed by Rebecca.

Claire, a secondary school English teacher in her early forties, starts hearing a persistent low hum while driving her daughter Ashley to school. This innocuous noise soon spirals into a cascade of problems.

She suffers from migraines, nosebleeds, insomnia, and even starts seeing things that aren't there.

The incessant humming creates growing strain in her relationships with her husband, Paul (played by Prasanna Puwanarajah), and her daughter, Ashley (Mia Tharia), who are baffled by her unexplained health issues, reports the Express.

Despite thorough medical examinations, no definitive cause or source for the sound is found, and it remains inaudible to everyone but Claire.

Her ordeal worsens as she becomes increasingly isolated and anxious about her health until one of her students, Kyle Francis (Ollie West), confides in her that he hears the same enigmatic noise.

In discussing the new thriller, which delves into various themes such as Western conspiracy culture and the human desire for connection, Rebecca explains that the plot transcends the initial impression of "cults" that some viewers may have.

She commented: "The show to me isn't about 'cults', it's much more interesting than that. As it's more about the people who are susceptible to them."

"Often, it's the people you least expect. It's the people who are smart and have their head screwed on. The Listeners speaks to the fact that we're all vulnerable and at times, desperate and susceptible to all kinds of things to make us feel safer and less alone."

Additionally, she noted: "This story does look at human vulnerabilities and what makes you susceptible to people who might be emotionally manipulative. But it also speaks to a desperation that forces people to become emotionally manipulative because they are equally vulnerable and want to feel connection with other people."

When queried about her aspirations for the audience's experience with the new series, Rebecca elucidated: "The Listeners is very philosophically engaging and challenging. It's entertaining and I hope that the audience go on the journey that Claire goes on and into a land of extreme beliefs that you wouldn't have expected someone to believe at the beginning."

The Listeners is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.