Entertainment

The Pembrokeshire Murders: Episode 2 review

Published

5 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

New appeal in search for missing Manic Street Preachers musician

Published

1 day ago

January 31, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Family and charity issue fresh appeal for information about guitarist 31 years on

THIRTY-ONE years after the disappearance of Richey Edwards, a new public appeal has been issued urging anyone with information to come forward.

Edwards, guitarist and lyricist with Manic Street Preachers, vanished on January 31, 1995, in a case that has become one of the most enduring mysteries in British music history.

***Missing for over 30 years: Richey Edwards***

The then 27-year-old was last seen at the Embassy Hotel Bayswater in west London, where he had been staying ahead of a promotional trip to the United States. He checked out of room 561 but never reached his destination.

Despite numerous reported sightings over the years, none have ever been confirmed. Edwards was officially declared presumed dead in 2008, though his family continue to mark the anniversary of his disappearance and keep hope alive that answers may still emerge.

Anniversary appeal

The charity Missing People has released a statement in collaboration with Edwards’ sister Rachel, asking the public to remember the case.

In a social media post, the organisation said: “It is 31 years since Richard went missing, please keep his family in your thoughts.”

They also repeated key identifying details from the time he vanished. Edwards was described as white, around 5ft 7in tall, slim, with brown eyes and a shaved head. He had several distinctive tattoos, including a rose with the words ‘Useless Generation’, the phrase ‘I’ll surf this beach’, and a scar on his lower left arm where he had scratched the words ‘4 REAL’.

Unanswered questions

His car was later found near the Severn Bridge services, close to the Welsh border, prompting widespread searches but yielding no firm clues about what happened next.

At the time of his disappearance, the band were on the brink of international success. Edwards’ intense, literate songwriting and striking image had already made him a defining figure in Welsh rock music. More than three decades later, fans still hold vigils, create murals and share tributes across Wales and beyond.

Police say the case remains open.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police Service on 101 or use their online reporting service, quoting reference CONNECT REF 01/764429/24. Missing People also operates a free, confidential helpline on 116 000.

Entertainment

Turner and Constable brought to life on the big screen at the Torch Theatre

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

ART lovers in Pembrokeshire will have the chance to experience the lives and rivalries of two of Britain’s greatest painters when a new documentary, EOS: Turner & Constable, arrives at the Torch Theatre this March.

Celebrating the 250th anniversary of their births, the film explores the intertwined stories and enduring legacies of J.M.W. Turner and John Constable alongside Tate Britain’s major new exhibition. Exhibition on Screen has been granted exclusive behind-the-scenes access, bringing their extraordinary art and personal histories vividly to the cinema screen.

Born just a year apart, Turner and Constable helped redefine landscape painting in Britain – and were fierce competitors. Both captured a nation in transition, yet their styles could not have been more different. Turner’s dramatic skies, blazing sunsets and atmospheric scenes from his travels contrasted sharply with Constable’s gentle, nostalgic portrayals of the English countryside and familiar rural life.

Their opposing visions divided critics and audiences alike, famously described at the time as a clash of “fire and water”.

The documentary offers rare, intimate access to sketchbooks, letters and personal artefacts, alongside insights from leading curators and art historians. It also ties in with Tate Britain’s landmark exhibition, running in London from November 2025 to April 2026, which reunites the two masters’ works side-by-side.

This cinematic event gives audiences the chance to see their masterpieces in stunning detail and discover unexpected sides to two artists whose rivalry shaped British art history.

Turner and Constable will be screened at the Torch Theatre on Sunday, March 15 at 4:30pm.

Tickets are £13. For bookings, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01646 695267.

Entertainment

Companies awarded funding as part of Made in Wales: Factual Entertainment project

Published

4 days ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Network and Creative Wales have awarded four Wales-based production companies funding to develop ideas for a new Factual Entertainment series

BBC CYMRU WALES, BBC Network, and Creative Wales announced the launch of a new development fund for a Factual Entertainment series at the Wales Media Summit last year.

Production companies with a substantive base in Wales were invited to pitch bold, original ideas that celebrate Welsh creativity while delivering unforgettable entertainment to audiences across the UK.

Boom, Curve Media, South Shore and Tŷ’r Ddraig have successfully been awarded funding to further develop their ideas for a new Factual Entertainment series. Each company will receive £10,000 of funding, with development starting in the coming weeks.

Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning BBC Cymru Wales, said: “We were really impressed by the variety and volume of the submissions we received – companies really responded to our call for ideas for an ambitious, returnable format, that surprises, unites, and captivates. We’re so excited to be working with the four successful companies, and we’re looking forward to seeing how their ideas develop further.”

Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Events, said: “Made in Wales is a collaboration to find a major new factual entertainment series that will harness the best of Welsh creativity and resonate across the UK. We are really looking forward to working with brilliant Welsh talent to come up with the next big thing.”

Joedi Langley, Interim Head of Creative Wales, said: “This announcement follows a recently published and updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Creative Wales and BBC, a commitment between the two organisations to work together to support the vibrant, diverse, world-class screen industries in Wales.

“This new development funding will do just that – create new opportunities for Welsh based production companies to develop exciting, original ideas for factual content. Congratulations to the indies, we look forward to seeing what comes next!”

The total funding of £40,000 has been provided by BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Network and the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.