A gripping new six-part psychological thriller features a BAFTA winning actress and a star of Game of Thrones. Others taking part in the S4C series are well known faces from Sanditon, Line of Duty and Keeping Faith.
Y Golau will begin on S4C on Sunday, May 15 at 9pm and will also be available on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer. The English version will be shown later this year on Channel 4.
It stars Alexandra Roach (Killing Eve, Sanditon, No Offence) as Cat Donat, a journalist obsessed with the gruesome murder of a friend. Other big names in this brand new drama include Bafta Leading Actress 2022 winner Joanna Scanlan (After Love, Gentleman Jack) and Iwan Rheon (Misfits, Game of Thrones).
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They are supported by a strong Welsh cast including Hannah Daniel (Un Bore Mercher/Keeping Faith/Holby City), Siân Reese-Williams (Craith/Hidden, Line of Duty) and Annes Elwy (Craith/Hidden, Electric Dreams).
The series follows Sharon Roberts, played by Scanlan, who has never stopped grieving the loss of her daughter, Ela. Joe Pritchard, played by Rheon, is a quiet, unassuming gardener who was arrested for Ela’s murder after her DNA was found at his caravan. Joe confessed to killing Ela but wouldn’t, or couldn’t, say why or what he did with her body.
Journalist Cat Donato, played by Roach, originally from the same town as Ela, has always been obsessed by her murder. Ela had been part of her circle of friends but prior to her murder Ela had been ostracised over a silly teenage squabble, a fact that Cat has tried her best to forget.
The news of Joe’s parole hearing and the prospect of his release causes both women to confront the past and the part they played in Ela’s final days.
With so many questions unanswered, Joe’s return to the community could be a way to get to the bottom of the mystery once and for all. If Joe Pritchard did kill Ela, why did he do it, and where is the body?
Speaking about the show, Roach said: “I was drawn to Y Golau as it’s a story of a woman coming home. I’ve felt the pull back to Wales ever since I left for college.
“It feels really special to be acting in Welsh again on Y Golau especially as it’s set in the area that I grew up. I’m so excited to bring this story and Cat Donato to your screen.”
Joanna Scanlan was brought up in Ruthin and later in Bangor and has been learning to speak Welsh. Y Golau, which was filmed at locations in West Wales is the Bafta Leading Actress winner’s first role in the Welsh language.
She said: “I can’t believe firstly, that they thought of me and secondly, that they thought I could do it. The only way I can rationalise it is – well, if they’re crazy enough to think I could do a Welsh language drama, then I’ve got to be crazy enough to try.
“And I have loved every second of it even though it is massively challenging. And it is hard, there is no doubt, but you get so much reward for that work that it is quite compelling.
“You just want to go back and do it again. It’s been absolutely wonderful and I can’t thank them enough (Triongl, S4C, Duchess Street Productions and Channel 4) for taking a punt on me.”
Will you be tuning in? Let us know in the comments section below.
Y Golau was created by Regina Moriarty (Murdered By My Boyfriend) and written by Regina along with Anwen Huws and Siân Naomi. It was directed by Andy Newbery (Keeping Faith) and Chris Forster (Hidden).
Filmed in both Welsh and English, Y Golau was co-produced by S4C, Channel 4 and independent producers Duchess Street Productions and Triongl in association with APC Studios, and with the support of Welsh Government through Creative Wales.
Y Golau is on S4C from May 15 at 9pm. English subtitles available. On demand: S4C Clic, iPlayer and other platforms.
