Lara Ricote always knew ‘Break Clause’ would be a hit

B reak Clause , Channel 4’s hit new romcom, succeeds where others fail because its premise – two young sweethearts graduate from university, move to London, split up immediately but are forced to see out their tenancy agreement – leaves room for both wonder and cold, hard, hilarious reality.

Ben, played by Samuel Bottomley (last seen in musical biopic California Schemin’ ), offers up the bulk of the latter, making ends meet in lieu of any hoped-for writing work by bin-diving and taking part in medical trials.

It is Ben who does the cheating the day before the big relocation.

READ MORE: The best TV shows of 2026… so far! His will-they-won’t-they partner Lil, meanwhile, injects the sadness and frustration of the situation with moments of wide-eyed optimism and a determined joie de vivre .

In one memorable scene in the first episode, arriving in the capital before their dream comes tumbling down, Lil spots a street dance group and jumps in to join them.

“Sorry about that, big misread on my part,” she fumbles, backing out when her excitable whimsy is unsurprisingly left unreciprocated.

Played expertly by Mexican-American comedian Lara Ricote in her first leading role, there is clearly much of the actor in Lil.

“I have a positive relationship to being alive,” Ricote beams when she meets NME for a coffee in east London.

At first glance, with her hair tucked into a baseball cap, Ricote presents like a burgeoning star trying to fly under the radar.

Then, she animatedly points out that the cap is actually a piece of Break Clause merchandise.

“So people will be like, ‘It’s her! From the thing!’” she jokes.

Ricote might still be able to order a flat white in peace, but 2026 has undeniably been a game-changer for the 29-year-old.

Break Clause has received nearly unanimously positive reviews .

Its star is flattered but not totally surprised by the response.