David Nicholls’ best-selling novel ‘One Day’ is returning to the screen in a 14-part Netflix series.
Having previously been adapted into a movie with Anne Hathaway back in 2011, the new interpretation fleshes out more of the book and includes some brand new storylines not featured in the original novel.
With filming locations from glamorous Rome to the motorways of Wolverhampton, the drama covers 20 years of intertwined lives, unspoken romance, and buckets of nostalgia.
Here’s all you need to know on the romantic drama released just in time for Valentine’s Day.
What is One Day about?
The romantic drama tells the story of Emma and Dexter, who have an instant connection when they meet at a university graduation party.
One Day follows the pair on July 15 each year from 1988 to 2011, as they juggle friendship and an unspoken romance. While Dexter finds success on TV in the 90s, Emma is stuck working in a hilariously chaotic Mexican restaurant, but their careers and personal lives will both reach new highs and lows until an emotional climax.
Where was One Day filmed?
The drama takes place in multiple locations across its central romance spanning 20 years.
Beginning with Emma and Dex’s first meeting at a university graduation party in 1988, the scenes were filmed in the courtyard of The Old College, a historic building at the University of Edinburgh.
After their ‘sort-of one-night stand’, Emma and Dexter hike up Edinburgh’s tourist hotspot of Arthur’s Seat. Actor Leo Woodall revealed at the One Day premiere that he had food poisoning for the duration of the scenes filmed atop the picturesque hill.
Characters return to Arthur’s Seat in the final episodes of the series, but the 40mph winds caused havoc for the actors wearing latex prosthetics used to make them look 20 years older.
The closing moments in episode one where Dexter chases after Emma to get her phone number was filmed on the Vennel Steps, tucked off of the colourful buildings of the Grassmarket, with an incredible view of Edinburgh Castle.
Episode two sees Dexter on an extended holiday in Rome, where he meets his mother on the Spanish Steps and idyllic alleyways that recently played a pivotal role during Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning.
Dexter’s parents are staying at the Boutique Hotel Campo de’ Fiori, with scenes taking in the picturesque streets of Piazza del Biscione.
Much of the series takes place in London, but back in an era where the skyline featured nothing more than the BT Tower and St Paul’s Cathedral. We get a glimpse of Clapton Overground Station when Emma moves down to the Big Smoke, with other shots of the long tunnels between platforms at King’s Cross tube station.
Loco Caliente, the Mexican restaurant where Emma and Ian work, was actually filmed at Old Suffolk Punch, a pub in Hammersmith.
Later in the series, Fire nightclub in Vauxhall doubles as a Brixton venue, and in the same episode Emma and Ian go on a date that was filmed at Smith & Wollensky steak restaurant on the Strand and the nearby Adelphi theatre, currently home to the Back to the Future musical.
Episode seven sees Dexter and Emma catch-up over dinner with Mayfair’s Quaglino’s brasserie standing in for fictional restaurant The Pacific.
Episode 11 has Dexter working temporarily in the kitchen of a friend’s restaurant, which was actually filmed in Maoz on Old Compton Street – one of the best spots in Soho for a quick lunch or pre-drinks meal. (Their chicken pitta with all the salads is to die for.)
Keeping with the food theme, in episode 13 we see Dexter, Emma and Jasmine eating at a pizza restaurant, with Bella Roma in Lewisham being used for the scenes.
Without venturing too far into spoiler territory, we also see Dexter pop up in a cafe at the end of the series, with Islington's La Maison standing in.
Who is in the cast?
Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall take on the lead roles of Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew.
TV fans will recognise Ambika from two of the most impressive TV series of recent years, medical drama This Is Going to Hurt, where she played the role of an overworked junior doctor, and I Hate Suzie Too, starring opposite Billie Piper.
Leo Woodall is best known for his appearance in The White Lotus, as Essex lad Jack, winning an award for his role in the ensemble cast. He is set to appear in the Amazon Prime series Citadel.
Jonny Weldon plays hopeless romantic, hopeless comedian, and well, just hopeless in everything Ian, who goes from Emma’s colleague at the Mexican restaurant to boyfriend. Jonny is a bit of a social media star with hilarious skits garnering him a loyal following who will no doubt be thrilled to see him in his most prominent role to date.
Newcomer Amber Grappy is the comedic backbone of the first episode as Tilly, Emma’s roommate and best friend who does her best to orchestrate the romance between the leads.
Eleanor Tomlinson arrives midway through the series as Sylvie, Dex’s most serious girlfriend with an aristocratic background and a family that are reluctant to accept Dex. Eleanor Tomlinson’s previous credits include Poldark, The White Queen and teen flick Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.
The cast also includes Essie Davis (The Babadook) and Tim McInnerny (Notting Hill) as Dex’s parents Alison and Stephen.
How can I watch One Day?
All 14 episodes of One Day landed on Netflix on 8 February. Each episode has a running time of around 30 minutes, so you can easily binge the whole series over a weekend.
If you want to check out the original source material, the best-selling novel by David Nicholls is available in all book shops.
While the 2011 movie starring Anne Hathaway isn’t on any streaming services, it is available to rent from Amazon and Apple, and is scheduled to air on Film4 around Valentines Day, so expect to see it pop up on Channel 4’s streaming service soon after.
Is there a trailer for One Day?
Yes, feast your eyes on the below trailer to get a taste of the romantic drama that will have you bingeing the whole series in one sitting.
Is there any new content that wasn’t in the book?
Yes! David Nicholls even wrote the penultimate episode of the series and he revealed at the One Day premiere that the 13th episode is completely brand new with some twists that weren’t included in the novel.
Elsewhere, elements that were only briefly mentioned in the original novel are now fully fleshed out with new characters and storylines, such as Emma’s experience in a touring theatre group in episode two.
What have the reviews been like?
To say that the reviews have been glowing would be an understatement. The BBC’s write-up calls it ‘A perfectly judged adaptation of David Nicholls’s novel’, while The Guardian describes it as a ‘highly bingeable love story packed with magnificent nostalgia and a sublime soundtrack’. Mashable praises co-stars Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall’s ‘complex, lived-in performances’. ‘The young actors establish an onscreen relationship that feels visceral and real,’ agrees USA Today.
But some critics have found the show’s will-they/won’t-they romance too cheesy. ‘[It’s a] grand, saccharine, predictable love affair,’ grumbles India’s The Hindu, and the UK’s The Telegraph describes the show as a ‘bingeable, sentimental romance with all the depth of a puddle’.
What other novels has David Nicholls penned?
‘One Day’ author David Nicholls has also enjoyed huge success with books including ‘Starter for 10’, ‘The Understudy’, and ‘Us’.
Starter for 10 was adapted into a movie in 2006 with James McAvoy as a student who lands a place on legendary TV quiz show, University Challenge.
Nicholls’ novel Us was adapted for the small screen in a four-part BBC series that featured Tom Hollander and Saskia Reeves as a couple hoping to revive their marriage on holiday.
One Day soundtrack: the full tracklist for the Netflix drama by episode.