Nicola Coughlan has spoken about the intense experience of making I Am Helen, the new Channel 4 drama in Dominic Savage’s acclaimed I Am anthology. Appearing on The Graham Norton Show, the actor explained how the production’s improvised approach left her dealing with nerves throughout filming.
The comments offer an unusual insight into a television project tackling coercive behaviour and the breakdown of a relationship. They also help explain why the programme’s format differs from the carefully scripted performances audiences may associate with Coughlan’s work on Bridgerton and Derry Girls.
What did Nicola Coughlan say about filming?
During the BBC chat show, Coughlan described I Am Helen as an intense but rewarding experience. She explained that the drama is improvised and deals with difficult subject matter, making the work emotionally demanding and unpredictable.
As reported by RTÉ on 6 November and Digital Spy on 7 November, Coughlan said she felt physically nervous each day and sometimes wondered whether she could continue. Her comments describe her own experience of the filming process; they should not be confused with a claim about the safety of the production or a diagnosis of any medical condition.
She also discussed the strange experience of watching the completed work, because improvisation means an actor cannot always anticipate exactly how a scene will play once the material has been assembled. That uncertainty is central to the format rather than an indication that the series was made without creative direction.
What is I Am Helen about?
The drama centres on Helen, played by Coughlan, as her relationship with Steve, played by Joe Cole, deteriorates. The couple have been together for five years, but their relationship becomes increasingly troubled as Steve is drawn towards online content promoting hostile ideas about women.
RTÉ’s account of the drama describes a progression towards controlling behaviour, verbal abuse, intimidation and emotional manipulation. The story explores the personal impact of those developments, rather than presenting the couple’s difficulties as an ordinary romantic disagreement.
Channel 4’s anthology has previously used self-contained, character-led stories to explore different women’s experiences. Each instalment focuses on an individual perspective, with the actor and filmmaker working closely to shape the performance. I Am Helen follows that tradition while addressing a contemporary issue involving online influence and power within relationships.
Why is the drama improvised?
Dominic Savage’s I Am series is known for a collaborative style that allows actors to discover a character’s reactions in the moment. That approach can make conversations feel less rehearsed, but it also places a particular demand on performers because the emotional direction of a scene is not always fixed line by line.
Coughlan’s comments on The Graham Norton Show underline the difference between playing a role in an established scripted production and navigating a story in which the performers must respond spontaneously. The challenge she described is a creative one: sustaining the character and the scene while dealing with difficult material.
It would be misleading, however, to suggest that every scene or plot point is unplanned. An improvised drama can still have a defined subject, an overall narrative direction and a carefully developed production process. The confirmed distinction is the way dialogue and performance are created.
Who else appears in I Am Helen?
Joe Cole stars opposite Coughlan as Steve. The central relationship is the focus of the reports published this week, and the available information does not justify inventing further cast details, character fates or a definitive ending.
Coughlan is widely recognised for her roles in Derry Girls and Bridgerton, while Cole has appeared in prominent British dramas. Their involvement brings familiar performers to a project with a different tone and working method.
What has been confirmed about the release?
The current reports establish the Channel 4 project, its principal cast, its subject matter and Coughlan’s account of filming. They do not provide a verified new broadcast date in the material reviewed for this article. Readers should check Channel 4’s official listings for a confirmed transmission or streaming schedule rather than relying on an assumed launch date.
The most important new detail is not a speculative plot twist. It is Coughlan’s first-hand description of the pressure and uncertainty involved in bringing Helen’s story to the screen, alongside a clearer explanation of what the drama intends to explore.
Sources: RTÉ Entertainment (6 November 2026); Digital Spy (7 November 2026).