Philip Glenister & Steffan Rhodri Lead BBC Drama ‘Steeltown Murders’ – Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: Philip Glenister and Steffan Rhodri are to entrance a factual-based drama for the BBC.

Filming on Steeltown Murders (working title) has begun in and round South Wales, with Life on Mars and State Play actor Glenister and Gavin and Stacey and In My Pores and skin‘s Rhodri within the lead roles as DCI Paul Bathell and Phil ‘Bach’ Rees. Ed Whitmore (Manhunt) is the author.

Severn Display, one of many co-producers on ITV’s excessive ranking 2021 collection The Pembrokeshire Murders, is producing in affiliation with All3Media Worldwide.

The 4 part-drama is ready in each 1973 and the early 2000s, contrasting the policing strategies of the Seventies with the forensic breakthroughs of the early Noughties. It facilities on the hunt to catch the killer of three younger girls in Port Talbot, Wales, and the how the thriller — the primary case of its sort — was solved 30 years after the crimes because of pioneering DNA proof.

BBC Wales co-commissioned the collection, which can air subsequent 12 months on BBC One and iPlayer.

Becoming a member of Glenister and Rhodri are Scott Arthur (Good Omens, Borg McEnroe) and Siôn Alun Davies (The Sandman, Hidden), who play the detectives’ youthful selves, respectively. Additionally solid are Keith Allen (The Pembrokeshire Murders, Marcella), Priyanga Burford (Business, No Time to Die), Sharon Morgan (Yr Amgueddfa, Gangs of London), Nia Roberts (Pink Rose, Yr Amgueddfa), Elinor Crawley (Vikings, Abnormal Lies), Gareth John Bale (35 Awr, Y Pris),  Kriss Dosanjh (The Larkins, Casualty), Matthew Gravelle (Silent Witness, Broadchurch), Amy Morgan (Mr Selfridge, Showtrial) and Dyfan Dwyfor (A Very English Scandal, Bang).

The Pembrokeshire Murders and Hinterland‘s Marc Evans is directing, with Hannah Thomas (Hidden, I Am Not a Witch) serving as producer in affiliation with All3Media Worldwide. Govt producers are Ed Talfan, Jon Hill and Whitmore for Severn Display, and Rebecca Ferguson and Helen Perry for the BBC. All3Media Worldwide will distribute the collection internationally, with extra funding assist supplied by Welsh Authorities by way of Artistic Wales.

“I used to be drawn to this tragic true story as a result of it’s in the end as a lot in regards to the scarring results of an unsolved crime on a neighborhood as it’s the crime itself,” mentioned Whitmore, who has writing credit for Waking the Lifeless, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Identity amongst different exhibits. “The narrative unfolds on two timelines — 1973 and 2002 — and the possibility to chart the interweaving lives of our characters throughout this epic canvas is sort of merely a present to a dramatist.”

“Crucial facet of this undertaking is remembering that the occasions of 1973 are nonetheless recent within the minds of many individuals,” mentioned Talfan. “Ed Whitmore and Marc Evans have labored on various difficult fact-based dramas and are working intently with our unimaginable solid and crew to carry this true story to the display.”

The information marks the most recent BBC fee for Severn Display, which was a co-producer on The Pembrokeshire Murders and maker of bilingual drama Craith/Hidden.

Rebecca Ferguson, Commissioning Editor for BBC Drama mentioned: “Steeltown Murders is a crucial account of the occasions that affected a Welsh neighborhood in 1973. The collection explores the very nature of justice and what it means to reside on within the shadow of such brutal tragedy. Helen Perry and I are very grateful to be working with Ed Whitmore, Marc Evans and the staff at Severn Display who’re thoughtfully bringing this story to life.”

“This manufacturing additionally showcases Welsh expertise each in entrance of and behind the digicam,” mentioned Artistic Wales Deputy Director Gerwyn Evans. “Artistic Wales’ funding into productions like this implies we’re in a position to construct on Wales’s abilities base in movie and tv, guaranteeing the sector has the pipeline of expertise it wants each now and sooner or later. I’m glad to see that six new trainees have been given a possibility to work with Severn Display on this undertaking and look ahead to the announcement of extra thrilling display tasks within the close to future.”