Entertainment

Tenby heads for prime time in new BBC murder drama

Published

6 days ago

April 5, 2026

Steffan Rhodri and Mark Lewis Jones lead major Welsh production as cameras roll in the famous seaside town

TENBY is preparing for a spell in the television spotlight after filming got under way on a major new BBC crime drama set in the heart of the resort town.

Old Town Murders, a new six-part series for BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Cymru Wales, stars Steffan Rhodri and Mark Lewis Jones as two detectives drawn together by personal loss and a string of suspicious deaths in a seemingly idyllic seaside community. The production is being made by Quay Street Productions and is being filmed in Tenby, Cardiff and along the South Wales coastline.

For Pembrokeshire, the announcement is more than just another television commission. It places one of Wales’ best-known coastal towns at the centre of a prime-time BBC drama and offers the kind of exposure that local tourism figures, businesses and residents will immediately recognise.

Tenby’s harbour, narrow streets and postcard setting have long made it one of the country’s most recognisable destinations. Now they are set to become the backdrop to murder, mystery and dark humour for audiences across the UK and beyond.

The series pairs two of Wales’ most recognisable acting talents. Rhodri remains best known to many viewers as Dave Coaches from Gavin and Stacey, while Mark Lewis Jones has built a formidable screen career through roles in productions including The Crown, Keeping Faith and Baby Reindeer.

In Old Town Murders they play DS Sion Dearden and DI Glyn Walsh, two detectives who find themselves thrown together while investigating a series of unusual killings in a close-knit seaside town.

Among the cases promised in the series are the mysterious death of a university professor, the poisoning of a head teacher during a wild swim, and a fatal mix-up linked to a triathlon.

The tone, however, is not being pitched as relentlessly bleak. Instead, the show is being described as witty, twisty and full of warmth, with friendship, second chances and reinvention forming the emotional core of the story.

That may prove to be one of the drama’s biggest strengths. Crime series have become one of television’s most dependable genres, but Old Town Murders appears to be aiming for something slightly different — a coastal whodunnit with a strong Welsh identity, recognisable locations and a central partnership built as much on character as on corpses.

The creative team behind it is also distinctly Welsh. The series has been created and written by Matthew Barry, whose recent credits include Men Up and The Guest. Barry has said he wrote the roles specifically for Rhodri and Lewis Jones after working with them before, suggesting the chemistry between the two leads will be central to the series’ success.

Supporting cast members include James Bamford, Bethan Mary-James, Catherine Ayers and Julie Graham, adding further weight to a production that is already shaping up as one of the BBC’s most notable new Welsh commissions.

There is also an economic angle. The production has support from Creative Wales, meaning the series is not only showcasing West Wales on screen but contributing to the wider Welsh creative economy through jobs and production spend.

No transmission date has yet been announced, but with filming now under way, excitement is likely to build as more residents spot cameras, cast and crew around the town.

For local people, that is part of the appeal. This is not a drama merely inspired by the Welsh coast. It is being made in Wales, by Welsh talent, with Tenby right at the centre of it.

For Pembrokeshire audiences, that alone makes Old Town Murders one to watch.

Entertainment

Welcome to Wrexham renewed for three more seasons

Published

7 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Hit documentary charting Wrexham AFC’s remarkable rise under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will continue as the club closes in on the Premier League

THE HIT football documentary Welcome to Wrexham has been renewed for a further three seasons, extending the story of the Welsh club’s extraordinary revival under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The series, which first aired in 2022, has followed Wrexham AFC’s transformation since the two actors bought the club for £2 million in February 2021. Since then, the team has secured three successive promotions, climbing from the National League to the Championship.

From the beginning, Reynolds and McElhenney made no secret of their ambition to take Wrexham all the way to the Premier League. With the club now just one division below the top flight, that goal is looking more realistic than ever.

Reynolds announced the latest renewal news to his huge Instagram following, telling fans that season five will premiere on May 14 and confirming that the programme has been commissioned for three more runs.

The documentary, produced by FX and available in the UK on Disney+, has proved a major success with audiences and critics alike. It has won 10 Emmy Awards as well as two Critics’ Choice Television Awards.

Wrexham’s rise has become one of the most talked-about stories in British football, with the documentary helping to bring global attention to the club and the city itself.

Last year, manager Phil Parkinson said the presence of Reynolds and McElhenney at the club had helped lift the whole atmosphere around the place, underlining the impact they have had both on and off the pitch.

Entertainment

Medieval warriors return to Pembroke Castle this weekend

Published

8 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Historia Normannis Wales brings combat displays, Norman justice and living history to the famous fortress

PEMBROKE Castle is stepping back into the 12th century this weekend as Historia Normannis Wales returns for two days of living history.

The event, taking place on Saturday (Apr 11) and Sunday (Apr 12), promises visitors an immersive glimpse into medieval Britain, with reenactors recreating the sights, smells and sounds of the Norman age within the castle grounds.

Among the attractions planned are a medieval fashion show, a Shire Court, combat displays and an arming of the knight demonstration, giving families and history enthusiasts the chance to see how people lived, fought and were judged in Norman times.

The weekend forms part of Pembroke Castle’s wider Easter programme and is included with normal admission.

Pembroke Castle said it was delighted to welcome Historia Normannis Wales back for another weekend of “real life medieval experiences”.

One of the best-known historic attractions in west Wales, Pembroke Castle was founded in 1093 and is famous as the birthplace of Henry VII.

The castle remains a major draw for visitors to Pembrokeshire, and this weekend’s event is expected to be popular with families looking for something different during the Easter break.

The event is included with normal castle admission, with standard ticket prices from £13 for adults and £9 for children, while online bookings receive a 10 per cent discount.

Community

Comedy in the Pavilion: Elis James at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las

Published

13 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Richard Lewis

COMEDIAN Elis James will take to the Pavilion stage at the National Eisteddfod for the first time this year, performing on Wednesday, August 5 as part of the festival programme. Entry to the gig is included in the Maes day ticket, and with strong roots in the area, his return promises an evening of laughter and a warm homecoming atmosphere.

Famous for making quick connections with people from across Wales on his podcast ‘Elis & John’ on BBC Sounds, Elis will no doubt receive a warm welcome at the National Eisteddfod, arguably one of the best places in the world to connect with fellow Welsh people. With his observational comedy, often inspired by his upbringing in west Wales, this is expected to be an evening full of humour, marking the halfway point of the Eisteddfod week.

Elis said: “I’m very excited. I’ve never done stand-up in the Pavilion before. Mam will be there, I’m sure other members of the family will be there too, but don’t worry, I’m one of those people who is funny under pressure!”

Betsan Moses, the Eisteddfod’s Chief Executive, added: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Elis back home to the Garreg Las area.

“As a Welsh comedy giant, we’re looking forward to a night of humour in his company, reflecting the true spirit of the Eisteddfod.”

Elis was born in Haverfordwest and raised in Carmarthen. He’s a comedian, podcast presenter, actor and broadcaster. Since 2014, he’s presented a radio show with his friend and fellow comedian, John Robins, originally on Radio X before moving to BBC 5 Live in 2019.

Among the UK’s most popular comedians, Elis toured Wales with his show Derwydd in 2024, recording a performance at Carmarthen’s Lyric Theatre. He has since returned to English‑language stand‑up after a ten‑year break.

Day Maes tickets, which include admission to the gig, are available on the Eisteddfod website.

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol y Garreg Las will be held in Llantwd, north Pembrokeshire between August 1 and August 8.