The Listeners is a "haunting new drama" coming to BBC One soon, starring Rebecca Hall as a woman whose life is suddenly deeply affected by a very rare occurrence.

Popular English teacher Claire is baffled when she begins to hear a low humming sound that no one else around her can hear.

Is she losing her mind? Can she even trust her senses anymore? Based on a famous book, The Listeners explores "the fine lines between faith, conspiracy, and mania".

Here's everything you need to know about The Listeners on BBC One, including plot, cast, start date, and the book it's based on.

What is The Listeners on BBC about?

The Listeners centres around Claire Kutty (Rebecca Hall), a popular English teacher, who begins to hear a bizarre low humming sound that no one else around her can hear.

The BBC synopsis says: "This seemingly innocuous noise gradually upsets the balance of her life, increasing tension between herself and her husband, Paul, and daughter, Ashley."

It continues: "But despite multiple doctors, no obvious source or medical cause can be found. When Claire discovers that a male student of hers can also hear the sound, the two strike up an unlikely and intimate friendship."

The pair both find themselves increasingly isolated from their families, friends and colleagues, who simply don't understand. Claire and student Kyle subsequently begin to fall in with a disparate group of neighbours, led by a charismatic couple, Jo and Omar... They also claim they can hear The Hum - and who believe it could be a gift, heard only by a "chosen few".

Who is in the cast of The Listeners on BBC?

Rebecca Hall portrays teacher Claire Kutty in the cast of The Listeners on BBC One. The 42-year-old - daughter of the late director Peter - made her breakthrough role in the 2006 Christopher Nolan film The Prestige, the same year she appeared in Starter for 10.

In 2008, she starred in Woody Allen's romantic comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.

Ollie West stars as Kyle. He's a relative newcomer to TV, having previously only starred in the film The Sparrow in 2022. He played the leading role of teenage boy Kevin in the coming-of-age story, set against the lush coastal backdrop of West Cork, Ireland.

The Crown's Prasanna Puwanarajah portrays Paul Kutty, Claire husband.

Meanwhile, the rest of the cast includes: Amr Waked (Ramy), Gayle Rankin (Men), Mia Tharia (Phoenix Rise), Franc Ashman (Inside Man), Samuel Edward Cook (Peaky Blinders), Karen Henthorn (Coronation Street), Lucy Sheen (Ping Pong) and Ian Mercer (Doctors).

How can I watch The Listeners? When's the start date?

The Listeners will be available as a boxset from Tuesday, November 19, 2024 on BBC iPlayer.

Episode one will air at 9pm that day on BBC One.

How many episodes is The Listeners?

The Listeners on BBC One and BBC iPlayer is four episodes long. Each instalment will be one hour long.

All four episodes will be dropped as a boxset on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 on BBC iPlayer.

In episode one, Claire Kutty - a secondary school English teacher in her early forties - wakes up on what she thinks is an ordinary day. However, she hears a low, rumbling sound while driving her daughter Ashley to school.

This innocuous noise starts to cause Claire migraines, nosebleeds, insomnia and even hallucinations. While those around her try to be supportive, they struggle to understand what Claire is going through as no obvious source or medical cause can be found and no-one else can hear it...

Where was The Listeners filmed?

The Listeners was filmed in Greater Manchester, including Space Studios.

This is different from the book. The 2021 novel was set in contemporary America.

Like the Netflix's Harlan Coben's adaptations, however, the action has been transferred to the UK for the purpose of the series.

Is The Listeners based on a book?

The Listeners on BBC One is based on the 2021 novel by Canadian Jordan Tannahill, who has also written the adaptation.

A synopsis for the book reads: "While lying in bed next to her husband one night, Claire hears a low hum that he cannot. And, it seems, no one else can either. This innocuous noise begins causing Claire headaches, nosebleeds, insomnia, gradually upsetting the balance of her life, though no obvious source or medical cause can be found.

"When she discovers that a student of hers can also hear the hum, the two strike up an unlikely and intimate friendship. Finding themselves increasingly isolated from their families and colleagues, they fall in with a disparate group of neighbours who also perceive the sound. What starts as a neighbourhood self-help group gradually transforms into something far more extreme and with far-reaching, devastating consequences."

A Daily Mail review of the book said: "‘Fantastic on conspiracy theories, cults, faith and mania and stuffed full of engaging characters."

The Listeners will be available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer from Tuesday, November 19, 2024.