Little Disasters on Paramount+: Plot, cast, and start date of Jo Joyner thriller based on famous book
By Helen Fear | Wed Apr 23 2025Little Disasters, a brand new original series starring TV favourite Jo Joyner opposite German actress Diane Kruger, is coming soon to on Paramount+ - and the plot is described as an "emotionally terrifying story".
It's a psychological thriller based on the bestselling novel of the same name by author Sarah Vaughan, author of the acclaimed novel and series Anatomy of a Scandal.
The hard-hitting plot centres around a group of women, whose friendship is tested to the limit when something disturbing comes to light. Here's everything you need to know about Little Disasters on Paramount+, including plot, cast, start date, and the book it's based on.
What's the plot of Little Disasters on Paramount+?
The series is described as a complex psychological thriller with a mystery at its heart, exploring female friendship and motherhood.
Little Disasters centres on the friendship between four women - Jess, Liz, Mel and Charlotte - who met 10 years ago as expectant mothers at an antenatal class. Despite having little in common apart from their due dates, they became firm friends and have been there for one another throughout motherhood.
At the heart of the mystery is Jess, the seemingly perfect stay-at-home mother. However, her world begins to fracture when she brings her baby daughter to the hospital with a head injury she can't explain.
Her close friend and on-duty A&E doctor Liz must make the excruciating decision to call social services - thus setting in motion a chain of events that ripples, fractures and nearly destroys not only their families but their entire friendship group...
What really happened to Betsy?
A synopsis from Paramount+ tell us: "As gripping as the drama itself, these first-look images unveil the emotional fault lines beneath a decade of friendship, offering a powerful glimpse into the deep bonds and simmering tensions between the four women.
"We see Jess at breaking point as she battles personal turmoil as she tries to take care of her children while being kept at a distance by the authorities."
As the threat of police and social services hangs over Jess, we see her husband and family man Ed on the brink as their perfect life unravels around them.
Meanwhile, Liz must deal with the emotional impact of her decision. Of course, the consequences of that night also have a ripple effect on the wider group as Mel and Charlotte are drawn into the investigation of what really happened to Betsy...
Is Little Disasters based on a book?
Like The Crow Girl, which aired on Paramount+ in early 2025, Little Disasters is based on a popular book of the same name.
The upcoming series is an adaptation of the hit novel written by bestselling author Sarah Vaughan, author of the acclaimed novel and series Anatomy of a Scandal.
A synopsis for the book says: "You think you know her… But look a little closer. She is a stay-at-home mother of three with boundless reserves of patience, energy and love. After being friends for a decade, this is how Liz sees Jess. Then one moment changes everything.
"Dark thoughts and carefully guarded secrets surface – and Liz is left questioning everything she thought she knew about her friend, and about herself."
Reviews for the book describe it as "a deep dive into the dark side of motherhood", "emotionally devastating", "an emotionally terrifying story", and "every mother’s nightmare".
Who's in the cast of the thriller?
German actress Diane Kruger portrays the central character of Jess, a mum of three who seems to have it all. Until she doesn't.
Diane is perhaps best known for playing heroine Helen in the 2004 film Troy, opposite Brad Pitt. Other huge film roles include National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and Inglourious Basterds. On TV, she's famous for portraying Joyce Holt in Swimming with Sharks, and Sonya Cross in The Bridge, in which two detectives work together to take down a serial killer operating on both sides of the Texas-Chihuahua border.
British actress Jo Joyner portrays Jess' friend Liz, the A&E doctor who is forced to make an unthinkable decision about her friend.
Of course, Jo is best known for playing Tanya Branning in EastEnders, Erin Cartwright in Netflix's Harlan Coben series Stay Close, and Mandy Carter in Ackley Bridge. This year, she'll be back playing Luella Shakespeare in series 5 of Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.
She's no stranger to tense thrillers either, having played Beth Morgan in the Channel 5 series The Wives in 2024.
Shelley Conn will star as third friend Charlotte in the cast of Little Disasters. Shelley is known for playing Indira Shetty in Gen V, Beelzebub in Good Omens, Lady Mary Sharma in Bridgerton, and Laura Kellner in Alex Rider.
She also starred as DI Vanessa Harmon in Liar, Dr. Elisabeth Shannon in Terra Nova, and Jessica Fraser in Mistresses.
Lastly, Emily Taaffe completes the quartet of friends. She's known for playing Katya in the 2016 TV adaptation of War & Peace, Niamh in The Beast Must Die, and Maria Kelly in The Rising.
The Peripheral's JJ Feild, Black Mirror's Ben Bailey-Smith, The Office's Patrick Baladi, and Masters of the Air's Stephen Campbell Moore play the male leads.
How many episodes is Little Disasters on Paramount+?
Little Disasters is a six-part original series which will premiere exclusively on Paramount+ this spring. Each episodes is expected to be around an hour long.
By our calculations, it's going to drop any day now!
How can I watch Little Disasters? When's the start date?
Although Paramount+ has not yet revealed the start date for Little Disasters, they have said it will be spring 2025.
The six-parter will premiere exclusively on Paramount+. We expect the series to drop as a boxset.
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