The BBC has commissioned a new 4×60 thriller The Guest, written, created and executive produced by Matthew Barry (Men Up, Industry) and produced by Nicola Shindler’s Quay Street Productions (Fool Me Once, Dead Hot, Nolly) 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) will take 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 is billed as an addictive, fast-paced story that centres on the toxic and beguiling relationship between a successful business owner, Fran, and her employee, Ria.
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 added: “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, said: “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.”
Davina Earl (Men Up, The Red King) and BAFTA Special Recognition Award-winner Nicola Shindler (Fool Me Once, After the Flood) are executive producers for Quay Street Productions, with Rebecca Ferguson and Nick Andrews for the BBC, and Matthew Barry serving as writer and executive producer. Ashley Way (Men Up, Who is Erin Carter?) will direct all four episodes, with BAFTA-winner Karen Lewis (Happy Valley, Men Up) producing. ITV Studios will handle international distribution.
The Guest starts shooting this month in and around Cardiff and has received Welsh Government support via Creative Wales.
