Former Coronation Street star lands brand new role in gritty BBC crime thriller The One That Got Away
FORMER Coronation Street star lands a brand new role in the gritty BBC crime thriller called The One That Got Away.
The thriller stars Elen Rhys as DI Ffion Lloyd, who teams up with her ex-lover, DS Rick Sheldon (Richard Harrington) to investigate the murder of a nurse in a Welsh seaside town.
Written by Law & Order UK’s Catherine Tregenna, the psychological thriller delves into the complex relationship between Rick and Ffion as they confront not only a killer but also the unresolved issues of their past.
The murder stirs up old wounds in the small community, casting doubt on a historic conviction and raising the chilling possibility of a copycat killer.
The series offers a forensic examination of a town, a killer, and a love affair – both past and present.
Also starring in the new show is Ian Puleston-Davies who soap fans will know best as Coronation Street‘s Owen Armstrong.
Ian made his first on-screen appearance as Owen on in 2010 and left the cobbles on 15 April 2015.
During his time on the show, Owen became the new landlord of Weatherfield whilst attempting to regain father-daughter relationships with both Izzy (Cherylee Houston) and her younger sister Katy (Georgia May Foote).
He then developed a feud with Izzy’s boyfriend Gary Windass (Mike North) and formed a relationship with Gary’s mother Anna (Debbie Rush).
However, things went very wrong for Owen when he went into a business partnership with his nefarious client Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre) which left him bankrupt.
And following his split from Anna, he left the soap in 2015 and moved to Aberdeen in Scotland.
Speaking of his departure, at the time, Ian said “Next year I will have been playing Owen Armstrong for five years and it felt like a good point to move on and take some time to focus on new projects.
“I have had a fantastic time at Coronation Street and made some great friends. I certainly would never rule out returning to the role of Owen at some point in the future if I was asked.”
Filmed on location in Pembroke Dock and south Wales, The One That Got Away features a stellar Welsh cast, including: Rhian Blythe (Keeping Faith), Sule Rimi (Day of the Jackal), Ioan Hefin (Gangs of London), and Aled Pugh (The Light in the Hall).
Also appearing are Mali Ann Rees, Will Thomas, Sharon Morgan and Hannah Daniel (Tree on a Hill).
Lead actor, Elen, who returned home to Wales to film, said: “Coming home to Wales to film was a joy—immersing myself in everything Welsh.
BBC crime dramas
The BBC is reopening case files on an all-star line-up of crime dramas this summer.
Here’s a refresher on the popular programmes which span six decades.
- Campion: Aired from 1989 to 1990, this detective drama series was adapted from novels by Margery Allingham and stars Peter Davison.
- Dalziel And Pascoe: A gritty detective drama series about a mismatched pair of policemen, based on the award-winning books by Reginald Hill. Aired from 1996 to 2007.
- Death In Paradise: A misanthropic detective inspector is assigned to a Caribbean island against his will. Premiered in 2011 and is still on air to this day.
- Happy Valley: Created by Sally Wainwright, this northern noir follows Sarah Lancashire as Sgt Catherine Cawood – tough, defiant and facing her traumatic past.
- Hinterland: Welsh drama starring Richard Harrington. Brooding DCI Tom Mathias uncovers secrets – and links to his troubled past amid mountainous terrain and close-knit villages. Aired from 2013 to 2016.
- Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Based on the novels of Elizabeth George, this drama series is about upper-crust DI Thomas Lynley and working class DS Barbara Havers. Aired from 2001 to 2007.
- Jonathan Creek: Starring comedian Alan Davies, this comedy-drama series follows a inventor of magic tricks who is often called in to solve puzzling murders. Aired from 1997 to 2016.
- Law & Order: Originally broadcast in 1978, this four-part drama series is about the British judicial system. Stars include Peter Dean and Derek Martin.
- Life On Mars: Beguiling science-fiction police drama following a Manchester policeman who travels back to 1973 following a car accident. Stars John Simm and Philip Glenister. Aired from 2006 to 2007.
- Line Of Duty: Created by Jed Mercurio, this drama follows the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anticorruption unit. Stars Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar, aired from 2012 to 2021.
- Luther: Crime drama series starring Idris Elba as DCI John Luther. Aired from 2010 to 2019, with a follow-up film released in 2023.
- New Tricks: Warm-hearted drama following an eccentric group of old-fashioned detectives. Starring Dennis Waterman, Amanda Redman, Alun Armstrong and James Bolam. Aired from 2003 to 2015.
- Sherlock: Benedict Cumberbatch stars a modern day Sherlock Holmes, teaming up with Martin Freeman‘s war veteran Dr Watson to solve impossible crimes. Aired from 2010 to 2017.
- Shetland: Detective drama starring Douglas Henshall, Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell, showcasing the dark side of one of the most beautiful places on earth. Premiered in 2013 and is still on air to this day.
- The Cops: Set in the fictional northern town of Stanton, this acclaimed, provocative police drama stars Katy Cavanagh, Rob Dixon and John Henshaw. Aired from 1998 to 2001.
- Waking The Dead: With a cast including Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston and Wil Johnson, this series follows a cold case team who unearths sleeping secrets, but sometimes the past is best left buried. Aired from 2000 to 2011.
- Wallander: Starring Sir Kenneth Branagh, Kurt Wallander is unable to unsee the dark crimes he’s tasked to investigate while Wallander’s job comes at a cost to his family and relationships. Aired from 2008 to 2016.
“The talented, close-knit crew worked together so well, making it a truly lovely and extraordinary experience. I felt so lucky.
“Catherine Tregenna’s writing blew me away. It’s not your typical crime drama; it goes much deeper.
“I love that there are no heroes, the characters are complex, damaged, and human; everyone is as flawed as the next.
“It’s so true to life. To me, it’s a drama about what it means to be human.”
Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales, added: “The One That Got Away is a knotty, twisty-turny, edge-of-your-seat thriller interwoven with an electrifying love story, featuring a fantastic Welsh cast.
“You’ll be gripped and quivering all at once – nail-biting stuff.”
Ben Bickerton, Executive Producer at Blacklight Television, said: “We are delighted that The One That Got Away has found its home on the BBC.
“It has been such a privilege to work in Wales, with the very best writing, acting and directing talent.
“The audience will be gripped not only by the high-stakes crime story but also by the complex love story at the heart of the show.
“Can detectives Ffion Lloyd and Rick Sheldon stop the killer before they strike again?”
The first episode will air on BBC One Wales at 9:10pm February 25, and all episodes will be available to view on BBC iPlayer.