Entertainment

The Pembrokeshire Murders: Episode 3 review

Published

4 years ago

January 13, 2021

Andy Chandler

TONIGHT, Wednesday January 13, sees the third and final part of The Pembrokeshire Murders air.

From the opening scene, it’s clear that Wilkins needs to act fast to cage Cooper.

Pat’s death is described as natural from the get-go, but theories will no doubt talk about how ‘Cooper must have done it’. He didn’t.

Her passing weighs heavily on Wilkins’ shoulders, you see that when he breaks the news to Andrew and it could be argued that her passing gives the team that extra bit of energy to finally see Cooper caged for his crimes.
11 minutes into the final part, Wilkins gets his ‘Golden Nugget’, Peter Dixon’s blood is found on John’s bathers after the hem is unpicked, they also find a hair from the Dixon’s daughter.

They’ve got him.

Luke Evans’ restrained joy boils over as he gleefully tells the DNA expert that he bloody loves her and that moment of relief is palpable for Wilkins who can now see the end in sight.
Within 120 seconds, we see Cooper collared by police for his crimes and literally dragged off kicking, screaming and swearing as his scheming is finally brought to an end, although it wasn’t filmed in Letterston where it took place in reality.

Caroline Berry as Pat Cooper (L) and Oliver Ryan as Andrew Cooper (R)

The scene where they find Cooper has tooled himself back up to, we assume, kill again, felt a tad unbelievable, a stretch too far even.
I didn’t particularly enjoy how stupid it made the cunning, clever Cooper seem when the race had already been run and I wasn’t entirely sure it served much of a purpose besides showing us how close the writers think Cooper was to killing again. I didn’t believe this scene was based on fact, until I got told by a friend that it was! I couldn’t believe Cooper didn’t know when to call it a day, unless by that point he genuinely felt he had nothing to lose.

It does however set up the face-off between Wilkins and Cooper that we’ve been waiting for 2 days to see.
The battle of the fathers takes place with Wilkins barely saying a word for the first few questions, but his triumphant gaze at Cooper, who now clings to his ‘ask Adrian’ defence, tells you everything you need to know about the calmness of Wilkins character and Luke Evans, again, plays this scene subtley, Allen’s Cooper though is rebellious to the end.
The victims of the Nolton Hill Estate attack get their chance at closure, their dreadful experiences have been somewhat under-mentioned so it felt rewarding to see a human reaction to part of Cooper’s crimes that are easily overshadowed by the double murders, but shouldn’t be forgotten.
As we hurtle towards the end, we see Wilkins steeling Andrew Cooper up to testify at John’s trial by video-link in a scene that, once again, shows the two standout actors of this production at their very best.
A non-threatening but righteous Wilkins coaxes Andrew into doing the right thing in a touching scene where Andrew finally gets the support he’s been lacking, only this support comes from the Police, not his family as he so dearly craved.

Cooper trips himself up in spectacular fashion during the trial as he’s forced to either admit lying to the court previously, or lying to the court now.
That moment, for me, secured his conviction as he’s finally left speechless and, to be honest, a tad pathetic.
Allen nails Cooper’s outburst as he’s taken down and that anger kicks in as he swears at the judge and finally disappears from view to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
The Pembrokeshire Murders ends with Wilkins’ son deciding to become a Policeman like his dad and the battle of the fathers is over.
Andrew Cooper hated his dad and wanted to be nothing like him, Steve Wilkins son ends up deciding to be more like his father so Steve Wilkins wins the day. Bravo!

‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’ is a story we’ve seen on countless cop shows for years. A cold case, a disgruntled cop with a chequered past is brought in to find the truth, through the course of the story he discovers the truth and in doing so mends himself and the lives of those around him.
It’s nothing special.
Until you factor in the true story elements, the superb performances and, to be frank, the local setting. If this was called ‘The Lancashire Murders’ I dare say that maybe I wouldn’t be as forgiving with the misfires as I am with this.

A great adaptation of a meaty story that does what it can with a story seen a thousand times before, the performances of Luke Evans, Keith Allen, Alexandria Riley, Oliver Ryan and Caroline Berry bring real heart and soul and set this apart from the rest. 4/5

Check out this weeks Herald where we’ll be taking another look at a confusing local double murder some say bares all the hallmarks of John Cooper….

Entertainment

Flu-like outbreak forces Eisteddfod cancellation amid public health scare

Published

3 days ago

July 9, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Emergency declared as festival-goers fall ill — site cleared to reopen Thursday

THE LLANGOLLEN International Musical Eisteddfod was forced to cancel its headline event on Wednesday evening (July 9) after a sudden outbreak of illness prompted the Welsh Ambulance Service to declare an extraordinary incident.

Multiple attendees fell ill with flu-like symptoms, leading to the cancellation of the evening concert — which was set to feature Sir Karl Jenkins conducting One World, his symphonic celebration of peace.

Festival organisers said the nature and scale of the incident meant it was the first time in the Eisteddfod’s history an event had been cancelled in this way.

A spokesperson confirmed: “Following Public Health Wales advice, the incident related to a flu-like outbreak and affected multiple people at one time. We take the safety of our audience, performers and volunteers extremely seriously.”

Medical teams on site were supported by the Welsh Ambulance Service, who confirmed the declaration of a public health incident due to the number of people affected simultaneously.

The festival had been running as normal throughout the day, with over 4,000 performers from 35 countries taking part in cultural performances, parades, and competitions.

Just hours before the cancellation, organisers had sent out a schedule for what was expected to be the busiest day of the event so far, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

Despite the disruption, organisers have now confirmed that the site has been declared safe to reopen on Thursday (10 July) from 9:00am.

“We are pleased to report our site has been cleared to reopen,” the Eisteddfod said in a further statement issued late Wednesday evening.

No further details have been released about the cause of the illness, but Public Health Wales is continuing to monitor the situation.

The Herald understands that stewards, medical staff and volunteers acted quickly and professionally to contain the incident and support those who were unwell.

Entertainment

Sunset Cinema returns for 2025 with open-air screenings across west Wales

Published

4 days ago

July 9, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Iconic castles and harbours set to host family favourites and Hollywood blockbusters

THE TORCH THEATRE has announced the return of its popular Sunset Cinema season for 2025, bringing open-air film screenings to some of the most scenic locations in west Wales. Held in association with Pure West Radio, this year’s line-up includes showings at Pembroke Castle, Saundersfoot Harbour and—for the first time—Cardigan Castle.

The season opens on Saturday, July 26 with Top Gun: Maverick at Saundersfoot Harbour. Over the following month, audiences will be treated to a mix of blockbusters and family classics, including Toy Story, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Lion King, Grease, and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, all shown on a state-of-the-art outdoor LED screen.

Artistic Director Chelsey Gillard said: “The Torch Theatre can’t wait to entertain audiences during the long, warm summer days and nights at some truly iconic locations across our beautiful county. From Saundersfoot Harbour to Pembroke Castle—and now Cardigan Castle too—what better venues to enjoy your favourite films under the stars or in the afternoon sun?”

A season of highlights

New for 2025, Cardigan Castle will host several screenings including Toy Story, Top Gun, The Lion King, Elvis and a special 18+ showing of Saturday Night Fever. Meanwhile, Pembroke Castle will close the season in magical style with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on Friday, August 29, followed by Wicked on Saturday, August 30.

Tŵr y Felin in St Davids also joins the line-up this year, screening Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl on Saturday, August 16.

Ms Gillard added: “We try not to let the Pembrokeshire weather affect our screenings—so even if it rains, the show will go on. Only in cases of extreme weather, like dangerously high winds, will we cancel. We advise everyone to dress for the conditions and check the forecast beforehand.”

Full schedule

26 July – Saundersfoot Harbour – Top Gun: Maverick (Gates 7:00pm, film 9:00pm)

1 August – Saundersfoot Harbour – Toy Story (Gates 2:30pm, film 4:00pm)

1 August – Saundersfoot Harbour – Bohemian Rhapsody (Gates 6:00pm, film 7:30pm)

7 August – Cardigan Castle – Toy Story (Gates 4:00pm, film 5:30pm)

7 August – Cardigan Castle – Top Gun (Gates 7:30pm, film 9:00pm)

8 August – Saundersfoot Harbour – Grease (Gates 7:00pm, film 9:00pm)

14 August – Cardigan Castle – The Lion King (Gates 4:00pm, film 5:30pm)

14 August – Cardigan Castle – Elvis (Gates 7:30pm, film 9:00pm)

15 August – Saundersfoot Harbour – Grown Ups (Gates 7:00pm, film 9:00pm)

16 August – Tŵr y Felin, St Davids – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Gates 7:00pm, film 9:00pm)

22 August – Saundersfoot Harbour – The Lion King (Gates 2:30pm, film 4:00pm)

22 August – Saundersfoot Harbour – Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (Gates 6:00pm, film 7:30pm)

23 August – Cardigan Castle – Saturday Night Fever (18) (Gates 7:30pm, film 9:00pm)

29 August – Pembroke Castle – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Gates 6:00pm, film 7:30pm)

30 August – Pembroke Castle – Wicked (Gates 6:00pm, film 7:30pm)

Tickets are £12 in advance or £15 on the gate, available online at torchtheatre.co.uk or via the Box Office on 01646 695267. Further venue details and updates can be found on the website.

Entertainment

Solva Edge Festival to celebrate 10th anniversary this July

Published

6 days ago

July 6, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THOUSANDS expected for Pembrokeshire’s most spirited summer weekend

SOLVA Edge Festival returns from 25–27 July, promising a packed weekend of music, culture and coastal charm — and this year marks a major milestone as the community-run event celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Set in the heart of Solva with dramatic views over the Pembrokeshire coastline, the not-for-profit festival has grown into one of the most loved events in the West Wales summer calendar. Organisers say the 2025 event — dubbed “Edge X” — will be the most ambitious yet.

Headline acts include Dirty Weekend, Daft Punkz and Who’s Molly

This year’s musical line-up is led by high-energy favourites Dirty Weekend, dance-pop crowd-pleasers Daft Punkz, and the anthemic Who’s Molly. Festival regulars will also welcome the return of Good Times, while the coveted ‘legends slot’ will be filled by Fleetwood Mad, a tribute act drawing crowds across the UK for their faithful recreation of Fleetwood Mac’s greatest hits.

Activities for all ages

In addition to the music, organisers have confirmed a broad range of activities. These include:

Children’s entertainment, from magicians to singalongs;
A literary reading of Erimos, a new work exploring myth and hope, with author Mark Lewis and illustrator Peter Stevenson;
Guided walks with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park team.

Festival-goers can also enjoy artisan stalls, henna tattoos, street food, and local ales at the popular Green Scar Bar.

A festival with heart

Solva Edge is unique in being run entirely by volunteers, with all proceeds returned to the community through grants and bursaries. Past beneficiaries include Solva AFC, St Davids Guides, Strength Academy Wales, Simpson’s Cross Activities Group, and Victoria Hall in Roch.

Organiser Luci Chapman said: “This is a special year for us — ten years of celebrating music, community and the coastline we love. Every ticket bought helps fund youth groups, sports clubs and creative projects across North Pembrokeshire.”

The event takes place at Solva Football Club, Maes Y Mor, Solva, SA62 6XW, with free parking on site.

Tickets are available online at www.edgefestival.co.uk or at the gate.