The Au Pair has divided opinion on Channel 5 as it stars Beyond Paradise actress Sally Bretton as Zoe, who is married to her successful husband, Chris (Kenny Doughty). She has two stepchildren – Amber (Margot Pue) and Noah (Ripley Barden) – and she is desperate to win their affection.
It appears she has a love/hate relationship with both children and is easily wound up by their irresponsible actions. Little does she know, the mysterious goings on are not down to the children at all. Part of Zoe’s story arc is her struggle to conceive children naturally and she is desperate to have a child of her own. The topic has caused a strain in her relationship with Chris, who would rather not have another child.
In the series, Zoe is starting the process of IVF treatment when her doctor calls her, delivering some shocking news. Zoe opens up about her dark past when it comes to conceiving, and the storyline is all too familiar. While The Au Pair is worlds away from her role as Martha Lloyd in Beyond Paradise, both of Sally’s characters have very similar storylines. It was difficult to look past Sally as Martha while she was being emotionally tormented by Sandrine (Ludmilla Makowski).
Sally Bretton as Zoe in The Au Pair (Image: CHANNEL 5)
Fans of the actress will know that in Beyond Paradise, Martha too has been on a difficult IVF journey and in one harrowing scene, lost a pregnancy.
Like Zoe, Martha had her heart set on becoming a mother but she eventually decided to go down the fostering route.
In an interview with Express.co.uk and other media, actress Sally claimed the role was very different to anything she had done before and she was keen to take on something darker.
She said: “I think I took it on because I hadn’t done anything like that before – a melodrama –and the opportunity to take on something so different was really exciting.
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Sally Bretton with Kenny Doughty in The Au Pair (Image: CHANNEL 5)
“Everything I had done for years had been comedy, which was wonderful. And then I did Beyond Paradise, which touches on some drama and some sensitive issues.
“But this was a real dash at something very dramatic and I couldn’t resist it. Normally there’s much more lightness in my life though.”
Despite this, it is sometimes difficult to dissociate the actress from her Beyond Paradise role alongside Kris Marshall.
That being said, Sally’s chemistry with Vera star Kenny Doughty, and their turbulent on-screen relationship, makes for some compelling television.
The Au Pair airs on Channel 5 at 9pm