How can I watch ‘One Day’? After spending graduation night together, Emma and Dexter go their separate ways — but their lives remain intertwined. Based on David Nicholls’ novel.
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.
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.
The series begins in 1988, when Emma and Dexter meet on the day of their college graduation, with endless possibilities ahead of them. After an almost-one-night stand, they embark on a close friendship, leaning on each other as they figure out their lives. As the years go by it becomes clear that their possibilities weren’t as infinite as they once seemed. Dexter sees early success as a TV personality, while Emma’s ambition of becoming a published writer feels unattainable. Each tries their hand at love; each has their own loss.
But it wouldn’t succeed without the chemistry between Mod and Woodall, and the young actors establish an onscreen relationship that feels visceral and real. This is no fairytale, and the actors get messy and angry as well as moony and loving. If it’s harder to buy them as Emma and Dexter get into their 30s, that’s not the fault of the actors: They can’t age exactly one year with each passing episode. Different hairstyles and makeup can only go so far when the stars have the unmistakable bloom of youth in their shiny eyes.
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.
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.
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.
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 nurse, 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.
Is there a trailer for One Day?
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.