Trying Season 5 brings Nikki and Jason back into a much more complicated family story, as Kat arrives in their lives and changes the balance at home. The new season premiered globally on Apple TV on July 8, 2026, with Apple listing the main Season 5 setup around Kat’s return as the biological mother of Princess and Tyler.
Who Plays Kat in Trying Season 5?
Kat is played by Charlotte Riley. She becomes one of the most important characters in Season 5 because her arrival directly affects Nikki, Jason, Princess, and Tyler.
Kat is Princess and Tyler’s biological mother, and her appearance at Nikki and Jason’s doorstep brings tension into a family that had finally found some stability. Apple’s official Season 5 description names Kat as the person whose return brings “chaos” into their settled family life.
Who Plays Nikki?
Nikki is played by Esther Smith. She remains the emotional centre of Trying, especially as Season 5 asks her to deal with the fallout of Kat’s return.
Nikki has spent years building a family with Jason, and her role this season becomes more difficult because Princess and Tyler now have questions that love alone cannot answer. Smith also executive produces the new season alongside Rafe Spall.
Who Plays Jason?
Jason is played by Rafe Spall. He returns as Nikki’s husband and Princess and Tyler’s adoptive father.
Jason has always brought warmth and nervous humour to the series, but Season 5 gives him a heavier family conflict to handle. His bond with the children matters even more now because Kat’s arrival forces everyone to rethink trust, honesty, and belonging.
Who Plays Princess?
Princess is played by Scarlett Rayner. She became a major focus in Season 4 after the time jump, and Season 5 continues her emotional journey.
Princess wants answers about her biological mother, and Kat’s sudden arrival gives her the truth in the most disruptive way possible. Apple’s official cast listing includes Scarlett Rayner among the key Season 5 names.
Who Plays Tyler?
Tyler is played by Cooper Turner. Like Princess, Tyler sits at the centre of the new family conflict because Kat is also his biological mother.
Tyler’s role adds another layer to Season 5 because the story is not only about Princess getting answers. It is also about how both children process Kat’s return while Nikki and Jason try to protect the family they have built.
Other Trying Season 5 Cast Members
Trying Season 5 also features familiar and new faces, including Darren Boyd, Siân Brooke, Phil Davis, Celia Imrie, Gbemisola Ikumelo, and Colin Morgan. The eight-episode season releases weekly on Apple TV through August 26, 2026.
At its core, Season 5 uses Kat’s arrival to test every part of Nikki and Jason’s family life. The cast matters because each character now has a clear emotional stake in what happens next.
