“The Feud”: The Latest Twisty Thriller from Channel 5 Lands on Netflix
The six-part domestic thriller The Feud – originally airing on Channel 5 and now available on Netflix – offers viewers a satisfyingly creepy story of suburbia gone wrong. Billed as “a story of obsession, paranoia and fear”, it pairs two familiar British television stars, Jill Halfpenny and Rupert Penry‑Jones, in a tense, unnerving tale of neighbourliness and escalating conflict.

If you’re a fan of gloriously over-the-top Channel 5 dramas, this one should be right up your alley. Halfpenny and Penry-Jones previously appeared together in another Channel 5 thriller, The Drowning (still available on Channel5.com). Now they return for yet another nail-biting ride.

Following in the footsteps of hits like The Au Pair and The Wives, The Feud features an ensemble cast and a delightfully wild plot. Below is the full rundown on the series — from storyline and production details, to cast, episode count, release information, and what critics are saying.

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Plot

On the surface, Emma and John Barnett appear to have it all: a cozy family-life in the quiet cul-de-sac of Shelbury Drive, with their teenage daughter Beth. But as with most Channel 5 thrillers, the calm is deceptive.

The Barnetts’ friendly neighbourly network includes Sonia and Alan (next door) and the comparatively older couple, Derek and Barbara (on the other flank). Everything seems stable — until the day Emma and John decide to add a kitchen extension.

According to the official synopsis, “As objections to Emma’s plans are raised, life-threatening secrets start rising to the surface. Laced with menace, The Feud reveals how Emma’s aspirational dream turns sharply into obsession, paranoia, and fear.”  As one article notes: the seemingly peaceful street “proves to be not quite as harmonious as they thought.” 

What begins as a seemingly ordinary domestic project spirals into a dark, suspense-filled drama where neighbours can’t be trusted — and nothing is quite as it seems.

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Release & How to Watch

The Feud originally aired on Channel 5 from 14 April 2025 as a six-part series.  As of Sunday 9 November 2025, all six episodes have dropped on Netflix, making it available for binge-viewing.  Channel 5 also offers the full boxset on their own platform (Channel5.com) for those without Netflix access.

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Cast & Key Players

The cast is one of the show’s strong suits.

• Jill Halfpenny plays Emma Barnett. She has a strong résumé including previous Channel 5 thrillers like The Cuckoo, The Drowning and The Holiday, and well-known roles such as Kate Mitchell in EastEnders, Izzie Redpath in Waterloo Road and Jennifer Robertson in Liar.

• Rupert Penry-Jones plays her husband John. He is widely known for roles in Spooks, Whitechapel, Silk and The Strain.

• Amy Nuttall appears as Sonia Spence (of the neighbouring pair) and Ray Fearon as Alan Spence.

• Tessa Peake-Jones and James Fleet play the older couple Barbara and Derek Abshire.

• Additional cast includes Larry Lamb as Emma’s father Terry; Megan Trower as Beth Barnett; Jamie-Lee O’Donnell as PC Gallagher; Alex Macqueen as the odd-ball neighbour Nick; and Chris Gascoyne in his first TV role since leaving Coronation Street in 2023, playing Lee the builder. 

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Episode Count & Format

The Feud runs for a total of six episodes, each approximately one hour in length (including ad breaks). While UK Channel 5 viewers watched it in a linear, weekly format, the Netflix release allows for full series binge-watching. 

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Setting & Production

Production began in Newcastle in May 2024 — a fitting choice given Jill Halfpenny’s regional ties. Halfpenny commented: “The courtroom scenes were fun, although it was boiling hot and we were dying from the heat that day. We had freakishly good weather in Newcastle for the whole of The Feud’s shoot.”Ray Fearon added fond recollections: “Rupert Penry-Jones and I worked together … with the Royal Shakespeare Company. We have a lot of great memories … in Newcastle.” 

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Critical & Viewer Reception

Reception has been mixed. According to Hello! Magazine, the series is already sitting at number one in Netflix’s Top 10 TV chart, with an ensemble cast and “high-stakes, twisty plot filled with secrets and paranoia”. However, critics responded less favourably: The Daily Telegraph gave the series just one star, calling it “a domestic thriller that is startling in its unoriginality”.  Meanwhile The Times awarded three stars, observing that though the show might be knowingly “naff”, it strangely hooks the viewer by tapping into the “sheer toxicity of neighbour disputes that in real life can escalate”. On social media, viewers are similarly divided — some praise the cast and production value, while others say the storyline suffers from “plot holes” and an abrupt ending.

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Why You Might Want to Watch

• If you enjoy suburban thrillers with escalating tension and familiar TV faces, The Feud delivers.

• The domestic setting (ordinary home, friendly neighbours, home-improvement project) makes the story feel unsettlingly plausible — which is part of its charm.

• The full box-set format on Netflix means you can consume the whole arc in one sitting, ideal for a weekend binge.

• At six episodes, it’s a relatively compact commitment that still allows for twists, character reveals, and dramatic payoff.

• But if you’re after highly original plotting or subtle character work, critics suggest you may find it a bit formulaic.

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Final Thoughts

In short: The Feud is exactly the kind of glossy, dramatic outing that Channel 5 has become known for. With its claustrophobic suburban setting, a home-renovation trigger, and an ensemble cast of accomplished actors, it hooks you in quickly. While it may not revolutionize the domestic thriller genre, it knows its audience—and if you enjoy a little paranoia mixed with everyday mundanity, this might just be the show for you.