News

The Pembrokeshire Murders: The story behind the drama

Published

5 years ago

December 22, 2020

JOHN COOPER cast a long shadow over Pembrokeshire from 1985 until he was eventually caught and sentenced to life in prison for his horrendous, violent crimes in 2011.

Back in 1996 I was 11, it was my first year in Milford Comp and I can vividly remember being warned to stay out of Mount Woods after the serious sexual assault that was carried out nearby.

Those warnings felt, to an 11-year-old me, very serious, even if I wasn’t given the full facts at the time, it was clear that these warnings were coming from a place of genuine concern or even fear.

Fear was a weapon that, according to the new ITV drama ‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’, Cooper, being played by Keith Allen, wielded not only against his victims, but also against his family in order to guarantee their silence and loyalty.

The new drama series, coming to ITV early next year, not only focuses on Cooper’s deplorable crimes, but also on the effects that he had on those closest to him, like his son Andrew.

I got the chance to have a chat with members of the cast and crew over Zoom. Talking to The Herald, ‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’ writer Nick Stevens said: “Andrew Cooper was left a fragile, damaged and broken man after his father’s spree.

“Andrew had lost everything and had no happiness in his life because of his bully of a father, who, of course, blamed his son for his crimes.”

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

His son wasn’t the only one who felt the full wrath of John Cooper’s anger though, Nick went on to speak of Cooper’s wife Pat who also lived in fear of her husband.
“One of the key moments in the series is when Andrew reaches out to his mum, he goes to see her only for her to bring up those Khaki Shorts. At that moment it becomes clear to Andrew that Pat was still a part of Cooper’s agenda.”

That agenda of fear, of lies and of violent outbursts over the years, ensured his family’s silence, but how is it possible to bring a character as intricate and as predatory as Cooper to the screen?
Executive Producer Simon Heath told me “People remember Keith from years ago but people don’t know his Welsh roots.

“There’s a specific accent that Keith delivers perfectly that gives him the quiet menace that Cooper needed. When he unleashes his anger you can see the terror he inflicted on those around him.”

I asked Keith what worried him the most about taking on the role of Cooper: “I was worried about my accent” said Keith “I used to work in Tenby running boats during the summer, so I went back there on a Sunday and just sat in pubs listening to people talk but they were full of Mancs, Scousers and people from Birmingham watching Sky Sports!”

Keith Allen as John Cooper

“So what I did was drive out to Cooper’s village and walk around the area, then I went back to Tenby and that got me in the groove.”

“My trigger (for getting into character) was how he says ‘scuba diving’ from the Bullseye footage.

“I saw that and I thought ‘Oh my god, there’s a guy who will kill a couple one month later’ and you can see he’s not a very nice person, he imposes himself on his playing partner and he doesn’t enjoy being on that show.

“When he misses you can see the fury in his eyes and I’ve often thought that if he scored 180 on Bullseye that maybe they (the Dixons) would still be alive.”

Putting yourself in the mindset of a psychopath must be one of the weirdest experiences possible, Keith told me: “When you’re playing a real person, you can’t take your eye off the ball. But I’m a bone idle actor, I’m not the type of actor to be affected, but when you’re playing a real person, who did these terrible things, you do end up taking that character home with you.

“I’ve never met him but I think I’ve seen enough of him, when you know what he did you can watch him lying on the police tapes and it’s fascinating.”

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

But Cooper isn’t the sole focus of the new ITV series, we’re also going to see the herculean efforts put in by members of Dyfed-Powys Police to secure a conviction, leading the investigation at the time was Steve Wilkins who is being played by ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ star Luke Evans who relished the chance to work on home soil with ‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’.

Luke told The Herald: “It was wonderful, I miss being home very much. I have such a close connection to Wales and it was lovely to be surrounded by authentic Welsh people, rich accents and wonderful characters.”
When asked about working around the stunning Pembrokeshire coast, Luke told The Herald “It’s just a magnificent place to be at anytime of the year, the juxtaposition of these terrible things alongside the dramatic coastline is incredible.”

‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’ finished production just days before the first COVID-19 lockdown was announced, Luke told me: “We finished production on March 13th 2020 and within 4 days we were in lockdown. We were lucky to get the chance to make this and even luckier to get it finished before lockdown.”

My last question for them was about the victims, did they feel a responsibility to those that were so awfully affected by Cooper’s reign of fear, to which Alexandria Riley, who’s playing Ella Richards, said: “We never forgot that this drama is based on real life, we were so aware that we had a responsibility to do it right. Everyone involved took that responsibility on their shoulders, to be sensitive to those affected by Cooper.
“We filmed close to where those events took place and it kept you focussed on being respectful.”

Keith Allen summed it up too, saying: “I think the program itself answers that question, I’ve seen it and what I like about it is there’s no weird lighting or effects, it’s realistic and in your face.
“It makes you think ‘God, is that what these people went through?’. When the people involved see this, hopefully they’ll think ‘good, now the world knows what we went through’.”
‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’ will air on three consecutive nights (January 11, 12 and 13) on ITV and we’ll definitely be tuning in.

Climate

Heatwave warning issued as Wales and England brace for temperatures nearing 38C

Published

27 seconds ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Met Office warns of oppressive heat, sleepless nights and potential disruption as rare amber alert extended

A RARE amber weather warning has been issued for large parts of England and Wales as forecasters predict what could become one of the hottest June heatwaves ever recorded in the UK.

The Met Office has extended its Extreme Heat Warning from Monday (June 22) through to Thursday (June 25), with temperatures expected to climb well above 35C and potentially reach 38C by the middle of the week.

Forecasters say the heatwave will intensify rapidly, with temperatures reaching around 32C on Monday before climbing to 35C and beyond on Tuesday and Wednesday. Parts of southeast Wales could see temperatures of around 35C, while southern England is expected to experience the highest values.

The warning covers much of England and Wales and has been described by the Met Office as a potentially significant weather event due to the combination of extreme temperatures and unusually high humidity.

June records under threat

Meteorologists say there is now a strong possibility that the UK’s June temperature record of 35.6C, set in Southampton in 1976, could be broken this week.

The current forecast suggests Wednesday and Thursday will be the hottest days, with temperatures approaching 38C in some areas.

Tropical nights expected

One of the biggest concerns is the lack of overnight relief.

The Met Office is forecasting widespread “tropical nights” across southern parts of Britain, where temperatures remain above 20C throughout the night. High humidity levels are expected to make conditions feel particularly oppressive and may make sleeping difficult.

Health experts warn that prolonged hot nights can increase the risk of heat-related illness because the body has less opportunity to cool down and recover.

Health and travel concerns

The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat-health alerts, warning of increased pressure on health and care services and elevated risks for older people, young children and those with existing health conditions.

The Met Office has also warned of possible impacts on transport networks, power supplies and water resources, with roads, railways and public infrastructure potentially affected by the prolonged heat.

Advice for Pembrokeshire residents

While coastal areas of west Wales are likely to remain somewhat cooler than inland locations, temperatures are still expected to be significantly above average for June.

Residents are being advised to:

Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours.
Check on elderly relatives, neighbours and vulnerable people.
Keep homes shaded during the day.
Take extra care around rivers, lakes and the coast, where cold water shock remains a risk despite the hot weather.

The heat is expected to ease later in the week, although forecasters say temperatures will remain above average and there remains some uncertainty over whether thunderstorms could develop as the hot spell breaks down.

Charity

Welsh gold prize helps Cancer Research Wales mark 60 years

Published

13 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A DIAMOND-set Welsh gold necklace donated by Clogau will headline a special fundraising raffle marking 60 years of Cancer Research Wales.

The award-winning jewellery brand has gifted the necklace as the grand prize in the charity’s inaugural 60th Anniversary Diamond Raffle, which will raise funds for research, diagnosis and treatment projects across Wales.

The prize was unveiled at Clogau’s Cardiff store by Cancer Research Wales ambassador and Miss United Kingdom Millie-Mae Adams, who received it on behalf of the charity.

Clogau, founded in North Wales, is internationally known for jewellery containing rare Welsh gold. Its heritage is closely linked to the Royal Family, with Welsh gold from the Clogau St David’s mine used in royal wedding rings for more than a century.

Ben Roberts, Managing Director of Clogau, said: “We are incredibly proud to support Cancer Research Wales as it celebrates this remarkable 60-year milestone.

“As a Welsh business with deep roots in our communities, we recognise the impact cancer has on families across the country and the importance of investing in research that can save and improve lives.

“We hope this beautiful Welsh gold necklace will help generate significant support for the raffle and encourage people to get behind the charity’s vital work.”

Millie-Mae, a proud Welsh speaker and doctor in training, is also the founder of Exeter Street Doctors, a charity which equips young people with lifesaving first aid skills.

She said: “As a proud ambassador of the charity, it is my privilege to play my part in Cancer Research Wales’s 60th anniversary and be here today to unveil the first prize in the 60 Anniversary Diamond Raffle – a stunning, diamond-set gold necklace, generously donated by Clogau.

“The gift of life and time with our loved ones is the most precious thing in the world, so please show your support for Cancer Research Wales’s life-saving and life-prolonging work today by entering the raffle.

“You could win this stunning Clogau gold necklace while helping to fund vital cancer research here in Wales.”

Millie-Mae also advocates for health education through her Medic Millie Mondays social media series and delivered the first Welsh-language Street Doctors session. Her work with Cancer Research Wales is shaped in part by her own family’s experience of cancer.

Lisa Buckley, Head of Income Generation at Cancer Research Wales, said: “I’m very grateful to Clogau and Millie-Mae Adams for supporting us to launch our 60 Anniversary Diamond Raffle – our first ever raffle, as we celebrate 60 years as the independent Welsh cancer research charity and 60 years of innovation in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“Since 1966, we have invested £41.68 million to push the boundaries of cancer research discoveries here in Wales and we couldn’t have done that without the kindness of the Welsh public and our fantastic business community.

“Thank you for your support over the years and together we will unite Wales against cancer.”

Cancer Research Wales says the raffle will help support projects aimed at improving cancer outcomes for people across the country.

To enter the raffle, visit www.cancerresearch.wales.

Prize unveiled:

Miss United Kingdom Millie-Mae Adams received the necklace on behalf of Cancer Research Wales at Clogau’s Cardiff store (Pic: Paul Fears).

Charity

Voices at the Castle hailed a huge success for Paul Sartori Foundation

Published

32 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A MEMORABLE evening of music, warmth and community spirit filled Pembroke Castle as Voices at the Castle was hailed a huge success.

The event, held on Saturday (Jun 13), brought together local performers, an international star and a strong audience in one of Pembrokeshire’s most iconic settings, all in support of the Paul Sartori Foundation.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the historic castle, the evening offered an uplifting celebration of live music and charity. Organisers said the relaxed atmosphere, sunny setting and quality of performances helped make it a night to remember.

The event opened with Pembrokeshire Pop Voices, who entertained the audience with an upbeat set including their charity single Love the Bones of You.

They were followed by Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir, who delivered a rousing selection of classic male voice choir favourites, with many in the audience joining in.

The Paul Sartori Community Choir also impressed in one of its first outdoor performances, with a confident and spirited set which included a standout rendition of an ELO classic.

Bella Voce added to the occasion with a varied programme of melodic songs, their harmonies carrying beautifully around the castle walls.

Headline act Russell Watson brought the evening to a powerful close, captivating the crowd with his humour, warmth and remarkable voice.

His set included a mixture of classical and contemporary songs, with the audience joining him for a singalong of Volare before dancing along as the evening built to its finale.

He ended the night with a moving dedication to Paul Sartori staff, performing Someone to Remember Me.

Organisers also praised compere Rod Haynes, whose warmth, humour and natural stage presence helped the event run smoothly and created a welcoming atmosphere for all.

The charity said it remained extremely disappointed that Rock the Ramparts, due to take place on the Friday evening, could not go ahead.

High winds meant it was not possible to safely install the stage roof and associated sound equipment, forcing the cancellation of the event on health and safety grounds.

The charity thanked the bands The Candy Skulls, The Cleddau Kings, Milly and The Bandits, and Saltwater for their understanding, generosity and the time they had put into rehearsing and preparing.

Thanks were also given to the staging and lighting teams, who worked throughout the day in an effort to make the event happen despite the challenging conditions.

Special thanks were extended to staff at Pembroke Castle for their continued support and for providing the setting, as well as Wayne and the team at EPS, Magnum Sound, Bluesky Marquees, Merts Medical, Elite Security, Joshua Bennet and David Halsted for their contributions to food and drink provision.

The charity also thanked Ian Richards for photographing the event on behalf of Paul Sartori.

A spokesperson said Voices at the Castle stood as a testament to what could be achieved through collaboration, dedication and a shared love of live music, adding that organisers hoped the night would live long in the memory of those who attended.

The Paul Sartori Foundation, which operates as Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, provides end-of-life care and support for people with life-limiting illnesses across Pembrokeshire.

The charity says it is keen to dispel the belief that it is only a cancer charity, with almost a third of those it supports having a non-cancer diagnosis.

It operates an open referral system, with referrals coming from patients, family members, friends, district nurses, palliative care specialists and hospital staff.

The foundation was established in memory of Father Paul Sartori, a much-loved local priest who recognised the need for hospice care before his death from cancer at the age of 39.

Photo caption: Jon Williams from Pembroke Castle with Laura Hugman, CEO of the Paul Sartori Foundation, team members and headline act Russell Watson.