Stephen Tompkinson stars in Channel 5’s new psychological thriller The Fortune as Boots Maddison, the groundskeeper at the estate inherited by Amanda Blakefield, played by Eleanor Tomlinson. The four-part series centres on Amanda, who is shocked to receive a large inheritance from a man she has never met. As she becomes drawn into the Worrall family and the secrets tied to the estate, past relationships and long-buried events begin to surface, pushing everyone’s lives into turmoil. The cast also includes Callum Woodhouse and Matthew Lewis, adding further familiarity for Channel 5 viewers.
Tompkinson’s appearance in the drama has also renewed interest in his well-known earlier role in Ballykissangel, the BBC series that brought him widespread recognition in the 1990s. It was on that show that he met co-star Dervla Kirwan, who played on-screen partner Assumpta Fitzgerald opposite his Father Peter Clifford. Their romance moved off screen and quickly became one of the most talked-about celebrity relationships of the era. The pair became engaged in 1997 after several years together, but their relationship ended in 1999 before they could marry.
Both actors later spoke about how difficult the split was, describing the pressures of demanding careers and filming schedules as a major factor in the breakdown of their engagement. Kirwan has said the separation left her feeling upset, vulnerable and disappointed after being deeply in love. Despite the personal fallout, the former couple later worked together again on two projects, including one around the time of their breakup and another in 2001, showing that they were able to remain professional after the end of their romance.
Since then, both stars have moved on with their lives. Dervla Kirwan later married actor Rupert Penry-Jones and the couple have two children. Stephen Tompkinson has also been married twice, first to BBC radio producer Celia Anastasia and later to Nicci Taylor, with whom he shares a daughter, Daisy. Their separate paths have not dimmed public interest in the pair, especially when Tompkinson appears in new television projects that remind viewers of Ballykissangel and the romance that followed it.
The Fortune marks another high-profile role for Tompkinson as Channel 5 continues to expand its drama lineup with character-driven thrillers and ensemble casts. For viewers, the series combines mystery, family tension and hidden history, while also offering a familiar face in a role that connects back to one of British television’s most memorable on-screen and off-screen love stories.
