THE GUEST: EVE MYLES LEADS CAST OF NEW BBC FOUR-PART THRILLER

The BBC has commissioned The Guest, a brand-new propulsive thriller written, created and executive produced by Matthew Barry (Men Up, Industry) and produced by Quay Street Productions (part of ITV Studios) for BBC iPlayer and BBC One in a co-commission with BBC Cymru Wales.

Eve Myles (Hijack, Keeping Faith, Broadchurch) and Gabrielle Creevy (Amadeus, Three Women, In My Skin) are cast in the lead roles.

Joining them are Cardiff-born actor Sion Daniel Young (Lost Boys & Fairies, Slow Horses), Emun Elliott (Sexy Beast, The Gold, Guilt), Bethan Mary- James (Death Valley, Sisters, Friday Night Dinner) Julian Lewis Jones (Dope Girls, House Of The Dragon & The Wheel Of Time), Joseph Ollman (Queenie, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Spent), Clive Russell (Game of Thrones, One Piece, The Witcher) and Catherine Ayers (Missing You, The Way).

The Guest (4x60) is an addictive, fast-paced story that centres on the toxic and beguiling relationship between a successful business owner, Fran, and her employee, Ria. 

Ria has never had the time or opportunity to think about what she might actually want from the world. So, when she starts cleaning for Fran, she’s intoxicated by this confident and self-assured woman who encourages her to take control of her life and, when Ria flourishes, an intense friendship is forged.

However, when Fran’s advice leads to a shocking event, the lives of these two very different women become intertwined by shared secrets and dangerous plots. What follows is a compelling and manipulative game of cat-and-mouse. But just who is playing who?

Writer Matthew Barry says: “I’m beyond excited to be re-teaming with Nicola, Davina and the whole team at Quay Street Productions and the BBC to bring The Guest to life. As well as being an exciting thriller, at its core this is an examination of class, social mobility and the growing disparity between those at the top and bottom of our society.”

Quay Street Productions’ Davina Earl and Nicola Shindler say: “We’re so thrilled to be working with Matt again, this time on a thriller with two fascinating women at its heart. Matt’s scripts are not only full of tension and twists but deeply relatable characters and his trademark wit and humour.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, says: “The Guest is a hugely entertaining, deftly plotted thriller that will have viewers gripped. After the fantastic, five-star response to the tender and life-affirming Men Up, we’re delighted to join forces again with Matthew Barry and Quay Street Productions on another Welsh-set drama, alongside this fantastic cast.”

Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales, Nick Andrews says: “The Guest is a twisty-turny edge of your seat thriller which you will be watching from behind your sofa. Matt has written a beautifully crafted tense story – an absolute showstopper of a series produced by some of the very best in the business.”

The Guest starts shooting this month in and around Cardiff.