Entertainment

The Pembrokeshire Murders: Episode 2 review

Published

4 years ago

January 12, 2021

TONIGHT, Tuesday January 12, sees the second episode of ITV’s 3-part adaptation of ‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’.
Episode 1 set the scene, it introduced you to all the characters, the situation and the sheer scale of the task ahead for Operation Ottawa.
Episode 2 picks up straight away, the news report seems to have rattled Keith Allen’s John Cooper who must sense that the net is closing in on him as he spends a lot of his time in the prison library reading up on DNA technologies used in criminal investigations.
Again we’re seeing that Cooper is as clever as he is manipulative and is still trying to scheme and plot his way out of trouble, even as he’s brought out of prison to be questioned by the team in Ammanford.

Operation Ottawa: the team that cracked the case in the new ITV drama

In many ways Episode 2 feels like John Cooper’s episode, obviously he’s the focus of all 3, but he’s a much bigger part of this episode and you truly get the sense of his slyness, his clear intellect and him acting purely out of self interest as his parole date nears.
After calling Andrew ‘dead to us’ in Episode 1, Episode 2 see’s John getting Pat to contact their son as John struggles to explain those pesky khaki shorts.
As mother and son are reunited, all hope Andrew had of being able to help his mum…sorry, ‘mam’ are instantly washed away as Pat keeps on questioning Andrew about those shorts. It’s clear to Andrew that Pat is still singing from John Cooper’s hymn sheet and getting Andrew over wasn’t for a touching reunion, it wasn’t just for tea and toast with jam, it was because John Cooper said so.
Oliver Ryan’s chat with his mum is a powerful scene, you begin to really see how much it’s messed up Andrew and how alone he truly is without his family, mainly his mum. But Pat is too involved, too wound up in Cooper’s lies to walk away, even with John Cooper expected home imminently. Oliver Ryan’s performance in this scene alone is one of the most powerful scenes in the entire series and deserves a special mention for another great acting performance in a series chocked full of them.
Elsewhere in the episode, Operation Ottawa are closer to Cooper than ever before but are no closer to proving his guilt as they burn through the budget re-testing items from Operation Huntsman.
Keith Allen’s chillingly cold performance, especially as he throws his son under-the-bus, is captivating to watch, his accent continues to waiver but just ignore it, what you’re seeing here is an animal penned in, Cooper is running out of moves to make so painting his son as the villain is the only way he can continue to try and squirm out of the grip of justice.
Alexandria Riley’s ballsy Ella Richards inspires the anger in Cooper that we’ve all heard so much about. Cooper may not appreciate female intellect, but that short-sighted, ridiculous way of thinking is so very nearly his undoing. You see that rage build as she confronts him and that encounter alone left me feeling that Cooper was ready to snap at any time especially when Richards presents him with another pair of glasses. Truly chilling stuff from Allen.
Luke Evans meeting with Andrew Cooper is another perfect scene that starts to build the trust between Andrew and Wilkins. Inch perfect again from both of them, Andrew clearly starts to see that the only way to help his mum is to help the police cage John Cooper for good. But how?
As the episode nears its end, a chance pint in The Kings Arms changes everything and we get to see how Bullseye factors into the story for the first time. That coupled with the very last scene leaves the stakes high and time running out as we head into the third and final part of this adaptation with John Cooper free.
Another solid episode elevated above your run-of-the-mill police dramas by superb acting, a great story and stellar pacing that sets up the last part perfectly. 4/5

Entertainment

Solva Edge Festival to celebrate 10th anniversary this July

Published

2 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.

Entertainment

Milford Haven gears up for Carnival Day 2025 – Festivities at The Lord Nelson Hotel

Published

4 days ago

July 4, 2025

Luke Sinclair

Milford Haven is alive with anticipation as Carnival Day 2025 sails into town this Saturday, and The Lord Nelson Hotel is going all out to mark the occasion with a day full of vibrant celebrations.

Set for Saturday 5th July, The Lord Nelson is throwing open its doors from 9am for a jam-packed day of carnival fun, music, and food. The popular venue has announced it will be walk-in only, with no reserved seating – so locals are encouraged to arrive early to grab a spot.

With three bars open throughout the day and a BBQ sizzling from 12pm to 6pm, guests can expect mouth-watering food and refreshing drinks. (Note: the hotel’s usual menu won’t be available during the BBQ hours.)

The afternoon promises a musical treat, kicking off with live music with Steve Bartram from 4pm, followed by a West presents DJ stage to keep the carnival spirit alive well into the evening.

“It’s set to be one of our biggest and best Carnival Days yet,” said owner James Findlay . “We’re excited to welcome everyone to celebrate with great food, live entertainment, and a real community atmosphere.”

Sunday 6th July brings a more relaxed vibe, with the hotel offering a hearty breakfast from 8am to 11am, followed by a lunch menu (12pm–3pm) and an evening service from 5pm to 8:30pm. Please note – no Sunday roast will be served this weekend.

With sunshine forecast and the whole town ready to celebrate, Milford Haven’s Carnival Day is shaping up to be a highlight of the Pembrokeshire summer.

Entertainment

West Wales rock band Supergene is reuniting for a special one-off show

Published

5 days ago

July 3, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SUPERGENE will perform at the Queens Hall Narberth on Saturday, July 12, supporting the also recently reformed folk rock band The Blims, who are returning after a hiatus after the passing away of their drummer four years ago.

Speaking about the upcoming event Supergene keyboardist Danny Walters, who went to Fishguard school, said it was the first time getting together as this line-up for a decade.

Danny said: “Supergene has had so many different band members over the years that our singer Samuel Walters suggested they could each walk across the stage and wave to the crowd as we played the set to see which one got the loudest cheer! When I heard The Blims had decided to get back to playing live again, after losing their drummer in 2021 to cancer, I reached out to them to see what they thought of us both playing The Queens Hall, Narberth, as a kind of nostalgia celebration of the days when we thought we’d make it. They loved the idea and agreed straight away. I then pitched this to the last major iteration our band had to see who was interested. Fortunately everyone was missing playing as much as me and so we started blowing the cobwebs and dust off of the old favourites.”

“The Queens Hall has always been a favourite venue of both bands to play, and so it only seemed fitting to hit the nostalgia button there, where some of our best memories lie.”

“We have also decided to play some of the last songs we had made and never got to play live, and so the set will have three ‘brand new’ songs that deserve to be heard. Two of these songs will also be put on our 5 track EP, called Cut It Out – a newly released collection of unreleased singles and demos that until now have been sitting on hard drives doing nothing. This release is to help promote the gig, and was suggested by a fan relatively new to the band’s music that was keen to hear more.”

Martin Dann, frontman of The Blims said: “We are really looking forward to playing in the Queens Hall again. It’s been five years since we played together there and it’s always been a great venue to play, with great crowds who always make it a gig to remember. We’ve got a cracking show ready and can’t wait to rock out with our brothers Supergene.”

Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are £15, available from www.thequeenshall.org.uk or call Box Office on 01834 861212