Full cast revealed

Sky has released the first still from the set of the TV adaptation of Frankie Boyle’s novel Meantime – confirming that James McAvoy will be taking the lead role.

Chortle last month revealed that the X-Men star would be playing Felix McAveety, an addict who turns detective after his best friend is found murdered in a Glasgow park.

The supporting cast has also been announced today, including Benedict Wong, Christopher Eccleston, Mark Bonnar and comedians Janine Harouni and Greg Hemphill.

McAvoy is dream casting for Boyle. Even before the book was published in 2022, the comic wrote on Instagram: 'It's got to the stage where I could get a Scottish actor, because the main voice is Scottish, who could do this. Somebody said to me James McAvoy, if you have seen Split he could do it brilliantly but anyone else would detract from it.’

Josette Simon plays an ageing former Detective Inspector turned crime novelist who helps McAveety, while Back To Life’s Jamie Michie plays his chaotic friend. 

Boyle adapted his book with Neil Webster  into a six-part series to be directed by Jon S. Baird, whose credits include Irvine Welsh's  Filth – which also starred  McAvoy –  and Stan and Ollie.

Also in the supporting cast are  Shauna MacDonald,  Shirley Henderson, Emun Elliott, Laurie Brett, Martin Quinn, Jordan Young, Lois Chimimba, Michael Moreland, Joy McAvoy, Hanna Stanbridge, Robin Laing, Kate Donnelly and George Robinson. The show is being  produced by Happy Tramp North and Expectation in association with Sky Studios.

Meantime will be available next year on Sky and streaming service Now.

Read Chortle’s review of the book here.

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Published: 18 Mar 2026