A brand new twisty thriller kicks off on BBC on Monday, 1st September, and it's already giving major Happy Valley and Harlan Coben's Fool Me Once vibes.
Starring Broadchurch's Eve Myles as confident businesswoman Fran, and Casualty's Gabrielle Creevy as Ria, her inexperienced and impressionable young employee, The Guest explores the intense and unsettling dynamic between the two women.
"The Guest is a twisty-turny edge of your seat thriller which you will be watching from behind your sofa," BBC Cymru Wales' Head of Commissioning, Nick Andrews said.
As the four-part series comes to BBC One, here's everything you need to know about the cast, including the characters they play and where you've seen the actors before.
The Guest cast
Below is the full cast list:
- Gabrielle Creevy as Ria Powell
- Eve Myles as Fran Sharp
- Sion Daniel Young as Lee Mace
- Bethan Mary-James as Sharla
- Julian Lewis Jones as Simon Sharp
- Clive Russell as Derek Abbott
- Emun Elliott as Richard Abbott
- Joseph Ollman as Mike Rice
- Catherine Ayers as Helen
- Lola Waters as Penny
- Kimberley Nixon as Eleri Abbott
For more on the lead cast keep scrolling...
Gabrielle Creevy as Ria Powell
Who is Ria Powell? Described by Creevy herself, "Ria is a cleaner who’s struggling with financial issues. She has a deep desire to explore and experience new things, but her financial situation holds her back. She’s hardworking and a lovely person, but despite her ambitions, she’s unable to achieve them due to her circumstances."
What else has Gabrielle Creevy been in? Creevy is best known for her role as Bethan Gwyndaf in the BBC series In My Skin, which she won a BAFTA Cymru for. She also appeared in an episode of BBC soap Casualty.
Eve Myles as Fran Sharp
Who is Fran Sharp? Fran Sharp is a confident and established businesswoman, who hires Ria (Creevy) to work for her.
On Fran and Ria's relationship, Myles said: "They begin with a very unusual relationship in which Fran has everything that Ria needs and wants. But as the story progresses, we see this power struggle between the two, and the relationship constantly flips all the way through. Ria is given an opportunity; Fran takes the opportunity. That’s what their relationship is all about, it is about what each does when given an opportunity and whether they are going to make the most of it or blow it."
What else has Eve Myles been in? Myles is knwon for playing Ceri Lewis in the BBC Wales drama Belonging, Gwen Cooper in the sci-fi hit Torchwood, and Faith Howells in the bilingual BBC/S4C series Keeping Faith (Un Bore Mercher). In 2014, she was cast in the second series of Broadchurch, portraying Claire Ripley.
Sion Daniel Young as Lee Mace
Who is Lee Mace? Lee is Ria's boyfriend. "When we first meet Lee, he’s in bed being lazy, which is a pattern. A frustrating one particularly for his girlfriend Ria. His laziness leads to a lot of the issues that he has to deal with within the series," Young said.
What else has Sion Daniel Young been in? Young is known for Slow Horses, Private Peaceful and Deceit.
Emun Elliott as Richard Abbott
Who is Richard Abbott? Richard has worked with Fran and her husband Simon for years. While Simon heads up the business, Richard deals with the logistics. Richard works well with Fran, but "sometimes it can feel like Fran asks a bit too much of him."
Elliot explained: "Richard is very much a family man, and, on the surface, he seems like he has this perfect life. He's happily married to his wife, Eleri, they have three children and a lovely house. He loves his family very much; he's 100% devoted to them and he works hard in his career to support them but that hard-working nature might be being taken advantage of by Fran."
What else Emun Elliott been in? Elliott is known for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Prometheus and Filth.
Julian Lewis Jones as Simon Sharp
Who is Simon Sharp? Simon is Fran's husband. On Simon and Fran's relationship, Jones revealed: "They’re a very aspirational couple. They’ve worked very hard, and the house we’re filming in is magnificent. They support each other, but it’s years of hard work and dedication. They want to work hard to maintain that status."
What else has Julian Lewis Jones been in? Jones has previously starred in Invictus, Zack Snyder's Justice League and The Chocolate Club.
Catherine Ayers as Helen
Who is Helen? Helen is Fran's sister, but two couldn't be any more different if they tried.
"Helen and Fran are sisters who grew up in the same household but have taken very different paths in life. Helen has always wanted to create a safe, family-oriented life, something she didn’t have growing up. She has a lovely family with two young daughters, and her world revolves around them," Ayers revealed.
"In contrast, Fran has made different life choices, which often leaves Helen perplexed. There’s some tension between them because they don’t always understand each other. I think there’s also a bit of jealousy on both sides- sometimes we want what we don’t have, and we think the grass is greener on the other side. However, despite their differences, they’re bound together by their shared past."
What else has Catherine Ayers been in? Ayers previously appeared in Keeping Faith and The Light in the Hall.
Bethan Mary-James as Sharla
Who is Sharla? Sharla is Ria's really close friend. "Sharla is brash, bold, and fiercely loyal. She's also brutally honest, but I think that comes from a place of love," Mary-James said.
She added: "Sharla and Ria’s friendship is deep, it goes beyond being just friends. It’s more of a sisterly bond. They’ve known each other for a long time, probably since school or even before. Sharla and Annette (Sharla’s mum) have supported Ria through tough times, and they continue to be there for her as she faces new challenges. They’ve really been there for each other over the years."
What else has Bethan Mary-James been in? Bethan is known for appearing in Belle, The Collection (2016) and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
The Guest starts on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Monday 1st September at 9pm.
