Adultery Soundtrack (ITV Series)

ITV’s six-part psychological drama Adultery uses music as a psychological barometer for characters caught in impossible moral conflicts. Set in Manchester, the narrative written by Danny Brocklehurst follows Tom (Dominic Cooper) and Beth (Romola Garai), two married parents who ignite an illicit relationship just as their teenage children, Jess and Ollie, fall in love. To underscore the fallout across both family households, composer James Righton and music supervisor Mark Kirby built an audio identity that balances intimate score compositions with bold commercial needle-drops.

Righton, previously known as frontman of Klaxons and an acclaimed composer for contemporary screen dramas, crafts an instrumental framework driven by delicate piano motifs, low-frequency cellos, and subtle ambient textures. His cues avoid melodramatic excess, choosing instead to shadow the internal hesitations, quiet regrets, and rising panic as domestic boundaries dissolve.

Contrasting this understated instrumental spine is Mark Kirby’s curated song soundtrack. Across the six chapters, the episodic music shifts effortlessly between energetic European dance anthems from Snap!, Kylie Minogue, and Moloko to resonant British indie rock tracks from The Charlatans, Richard Hawley, Belle and Sebastian, and Royal Blood. This tonal friction between the thrill of private escapism and the cold reality of family destruction provides every chapter with distinct emotional weight.

Episode Music Highlights & Sonic Themes

In the series premiere, high-energy party anthems like Love At First Sight (F9 Megamix) by Kylie Minogue and Sing It Back by Moloko soundtrack public celebrations and social gatherings, framing Tom and Beth’s first sparks against crowded, lively backgrounds. By contrast, Tobi Legend’s northern soul classic Time Will Pass You By serves as an ironic thematic bookmark, suggesting how swiftly impulsive decisions catch up with both partners.

As the narrative progresses through episodes three and four, the musical choices take on a moodier, more introspective quality. The Charlatans’ Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over opens chapter three with sharp indie swagger, while Richard Hawley’s atmospheric Tonight the Streets Are Ours colors the late-night escapades of episode four with nocturnal longing and Manchester grit.

The season finale delivers a devastating crescendo. Opening moments of tension lead into Colin Smith’s poignant I Hurt You, I Love You, followed by Lewis Capaldi’s powerhouse ballad Someone You Loved during the emotional unraveling of the affair. Finally, Royal Blood’s dramatic All We Have Is Now (Orchestral Version) closes the series, bringing full-circle orchestral strings and heavy lyrical gravity to the consequences Tom and Beth must permanently face.

Production & Creative Credits