Mastodawn

SWANSEA: City takes starring role as S4C and ITV team up for first time on new drama Santa Maria

A new television drama being filmed in and around Swansea will put the city on screens across the UK — in the first ever drama co-production between S4C and ITV.

Santa Maria, a six-part dark comedy-drama, will premiere in Welsh on S4C in early 2027 before being broadcast in English on ITV later the same year.

The series follows two families from very different sides of the tracks, whose lives become slowly entangled through the actions of Maria — a saintly but strung-out cleaner.

It was created and written by multi-award-winning screenwriter Siwan Jones, whose previous work includes Con Passionate, Alys and 35 Diwrnod.

Directing is Erin Richards, whose credits include Y Golau/The Light in the Hall: Still Waters and the American series Gotham.

Producers have described Swansea as an integral part of the story, with filming taking place in and around the city — and Mumbles also set for a starring role.

Cameras have been quietly rolling for almost a month — the production’s first slate, released with the announcement, is dated 11 May and marks scene one, take one of the shoot.

The all-star cast is packed with familiar Welsh television faces, including Y Gwyll/Hinterland stars Siân Reese-Williams and Richard Harrington, Hannah Daniel of Cleddau/The One That Got Away, Leisa Gwenllian, and Oliver John.

They are joined by Matthew Gravelle, who starred in the Port Talbot-set Steeltown Murders, and Swansea-born Melanie Walters — best known as Gwen in Gavin & Stacey.

The series is being made by Welsh independent production company Triongl, with support from Creative Wales, equity funding from S4C’s commercial content fund, and international distribution handled by Sphere Abacus.

S4C’s Head of Film and Drama, Gwenllian Gravelle, who commissioned the series, said it would capture the contrasts of life in the city.

“Santa Maria explores the striking contrasts of life in Swansea, where two very different worlds exist side by side,” she said.

“Set against the city and Mumbles’ iconic blue skies, this deliciously dark comedy-drama captures Swansea in all its diversity; vibrant, complex and unmistakably real.”

Darren Nartey, Head of Content Acquisitions at ITV, said the broadcaster was “very proud to be bringing this fascinating, quintessentially Welsh story to our audiences across ITV”.

Triongl’s executive producers Nora Ostler Spiteri, Alexander Spiteri and Gethin Scourfield said they had assembled a cast and crew to make a show that was “warm, funny and vibrant — a far cry from our usual Welsh noir”.

The Welsh Government said Creative Wales’ investment had helped create jobs and training opportunities in the Welsh screen sector.

Plaid Cymru’s Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, said: “As a new government we’re committed to strengthening the Welsh creative sectors. We welcome the fact Creative Wales’ investment in this production has helped create jobs for our talented workforce, valuable experience for trainees, and is expected to deliver around £5.7m in economic return for Wales.”

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#comedy #Gower #HannahDaniel #ITV #LeisaGwenllian #MatthewGravelle #MelanieWalters #Mumbles #RichardHarrington #S4C #SantaMaria #SiânReeseWilliams #SiwanJones #Swansea #Triongl #tv

Symmetry Junction May 29

Death Valley series 2 – some thoughts

With the recent UK heatwave, I had only enough energy to get to iPlayer and select Death Valley series 2 and hit play. There’s a chance of some mild spoilers, hopefully nothing shattering. I’d already seen episode 1 and if you haven’t time to read much more, I liked the whole series and fully expect more.

What’s to like with Death Valley series 2

The whole show feels a little calmer. Series 1 perhaps took a little too much time establishing characters, now we can dive in and get on with the show. The writers backed away from the John Chapel (Timothy Spall) relationship with DI Janie Mallowan’s (Gywneth Keyworth) mother Yvonne (Melanie Walters) and focused more on the core of the show.

Series 1 had a slightly hidden arc, this series has a theme. Since promotion, DI Mallowan is finding work/life balance a challenge. When her mostly absent father Michael (Owen Teale) arrives, he becomes a catalyst. With the inevitable reactions of anger and hope, there’s a rebuild of relationship and a threat DI Mallowan might leave at the end of the series. If you’ve not watched, I just say I expect another series.

There’s been some character growth, improved detective skills and a good mix of murders (chip van owner, runner on TV show, hippie and more) all leading to interesting stories, neatly resolved.

As to Chapel, the scripts are littered with references to his career and even a suggestion he turned down a preposterous part in the Harry Potter films for a character able to change into a mouse. A bit “meta”, but I was amused.

What did you think? Are you still watching? Liking it? Bored? Let me know in the comments.

#bbc #deathValley #gwynethKeyworth #melanieWalters #owenTeale #timothySpall

Symmetry Junction May 8

Death Valley returns next week

The BBC has announced series 2 of Death Valley hits our screens Sunday, May 17 on BBC One at 8:15. Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth return as retired actor John Chapel and disarming Welsh detective sergeant Janie Mallowan. I quite liked series 1 and this will fill a Death in / Beyond Paradise gap in the schedule for me.

What we know about Death Valley series 2

From the announcement:

Series two picks up a few months after the events of series one, Janie has been promoted to Detective Inspector and is busier than ever, with paperwork stacking up quicker than she can clear it. To make matters worse, she’s been ignoring John since finding out he’s been dating her mum. Janie’s hand is forced after a murder in a Community Payback group when DCI Barry Clarke forces her to bring John Chapel in as the department’s consultant.

Series two sees John reluctantly re-enter the world of acting, on the set of an epic Welsh fantasy TV series, when the pair are called to investigate a murder. Will this foray into his old thespian passion ignite something once forgotten in John? One thing is certain, whether investigating a murder in a coastal fishing village, a sustainable commune or the competitive world of rugby, John and Janie will continue to bring justice to mid-Wales.

The cast also includes Alexandria Riley (Helen Baxter), Steffan Rhodri (DCI Barry Clarke), Melanie Walters (Yvonne Mallowan) and Rithvik Andugula (DC Evan Chaudhry). To get you in the mood, here’s a trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyEIA0rMcBA

#alexandriaRiley #bbc #dates #deathValley #gwynethKeyworth #melanieWalters #rithvikAndugula #steffanRhodri #timothySpall #trailer