Luke Evans: ‘I get anxiety thinking about my new ITV drama’

Luke Evans knew he wanted to adapt The Party as soon as he read Elizabeth Day’s novel (Picture: ITV/World Productions)

On a dreary afternoon in Bridgend, Luke Evans gives me a proud, patriotic welcome.

‘Welcome to Wales,’ he chirps, at Dragon Studios where he’s filming the adaptation of Elizabeth Day’s scandalous fictional novel about Martin Gilmore, an insecure man riddled with shame, guilt and secrets that begin to unravel at a somewhat hedonistic, lavish black-tie bash.

Day’s 2017 book follows a 25-year friendship between Martin and his best friend Ben Fitzmaurice. Martin was a sensational talent, landing a spot on one of the country’s best schools on a scholarship, where he meets Ben, an aristocrat born into wealth and soci...