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The Pembrokeshire Murders: Episode 3 review

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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

Breaking barriers through movement: Let Life Dance comes to the Torch Theatre

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Inclusive dance performance to challenge perceptions and celebrate the human spirit

THIS June, the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven will play host to Let Life Dance — a powerful, moving, and visually striking dance theatre production featuring both disabled and non-disabled performers.

Created by Humans Move, an emerging inclusive dance company aiming to be disability-led, the show promises a heartfelt exploration of life’s challenges and the transformative power of connection. With a diverse cast and a spirit of compassion and inclusivity, Let Life Dance invites audiences to reflect on the resilience and beauty of the human experience.

Choreographed by award-winning artist Jessie Brett, the performance delves into what happens when individuals go against their own nature. It asks: how can we truly let life dance through us in a world that so often imposes restrictions, barriers, and struggle?

Audiences will follow the performers’ journey through chaos, interference, and personal growth — ultimately arriving at a space of surrender, trust, and shared humanity. Original music by composer Jered Sorkin weaves through the piece, underscoring its emotional depth and uniting the cast like pieces of a puzzle in perfect balance.

“There is something to be learnt from every human experience,” said a Let Life Dance spokesperson. “This work celebrates our differences and reminds us that each of us plays a part in creating a more compassionate world.”

Let Life Dance will be performed for one night only on Tuesday, 24 June at 7:00pm. Tickets are priced at £15 (£14 concessions) and are available from the Torch Theatre Box Office on (01646) 695267 or via www.torchtheatre.co.uk.

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Welsh learner’s Eisteddfod triumph inspires Meic Stevens tribute band

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Abertawe musician to perform across Wales with new act ‘Meic Agored’

LAST year, a Welsh language learner from Swansea surprised even himself by entering the Open Solo competition at the National Eisteddfod on a whim—and winning. The victory led him to perform live on the iconic Pavilion stage with a rendition of Cân Walter (Walter’s Song) by Welsh music legend Meic Stevens.

Tich’s winning Eisteddfod performance of Cân Walter

That singer was Ian ‘Tich’ Thomas, a familiar face on the South Wales music scene. A lifelong admirer of Stevens’ work, Tich felt inspired to create a series of tribute concerts celebrating the artist’s iconic songs and poetic lyrics. But before moving forward, he wanted to do things properly—by getting Meic’s blessing.

Together with friend and fellow fan Rhodri Davies—an acclaimed harpist and improviser—Tich travelled to meet Meic in person to discuss the idea.

“Meic was welcoming from the start,” Tich said. “He put us at ease immediately, sharing story after story from his decades in music. Later, he showed us some of his favourite guitars and their history. Rhodri and I played a few songs, and he was really appreciative and happy with the idea. It was a wonderful afternoon in the company of a great raconteur and host.”

Following that visit, Tich went on to form a new tribute band called Meic Agored, bringing together some of Swansea’s top musicians: Kate Ronconi on fiddle, Danny Kilbride on bass, Huw Rees on drums, and Tich on guitar and lead vocals. Rhodri Davies will join on harp when available.

Their debut performance will take place at the Uplands Tavern in Swansea on Wednesday 18 June at 8:00pm. They’ll also be performing at this year’s Sesiwn Fawr festival in Dolgellau, with two sets on Friday 19 July—at 2:00pm on The Square Stage and 3:30pm on The Stag Stage.

“It’s a huge honour to perform these songs by arguably the most influential Welsh-language artist of the past 60 years,” Tich said.

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Entertainment

A haunting tribute to Nick Drake at the Torch

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Keith James brings the timeless songs of Nick Drake to life in Milford Haven

The Torch Theatre in Milford Haven will play host to a hauntingly beautiful concert on Saturday 9 August, as renowned singer and guitarist Keith James presents The Songs of Nick Drake.

Nick Drake, one of the most enigmatic and revered figures in British music, remains a cult icon whose fragile and poetic songwriting continues to resonate across generations. Though largely overlooked during his lifetime, Drake’s three cherished albums — Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter, and Pink Moon — have since become recognised as masterpieces. Following his tragic death in 1974 at the age of just 26, his work faded briefly into obscurity before enjoying a powerful resurgence in the early 2000s, cementing his status as a national treasure.

Keith James was the first artist to bring Nick Drake’s music to UK theatres in a dedicated concert tour back in 2001. Since then, his deeply moving performances have captivated audiences across the world — from Glastonbury Festival to Nick Drake’s own schools and colleges. Over the past two decades, James has performed more than 1,000 concerts in venues throughout the UK, Europe, the USA and South America.

A unique figure in British music, Keith James has devoted his life to songwriting, poetry, and live performance. Eschewing the commercial pop and folk scenes, he carved his own path as a thoughtful and intimate artist, beginning in the late 1970s in London’s wine bar circuit. His ability to draw audiences into the emotional core of a song has made him one of Britain’s most respected concert performers.

In addition to his talents as a musician, James is an accomplished record producer, with a deep understanding of sound that ensures every concert he delivers is acoustically rich and emotionally powerful.

Tickets for Keith James – The Songs of Nick Drake on Saturday 9 August at 7:30pm are priced at £20. For more information or to book, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

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