The Guest creator says “really important” to film drama in Cardiff

The creator of a new four-part thriller has said it was “really important” to have filmed and produced it in Cardiff.

Matthew Barry, a Bafta Cymru-winning screenwriter based in London and Los Angeles, said he was “very pleased” to have centred The Guest in the city where he was born.

He said it was also “really important” to have shown a more affluent side to Cardiff in the series.

One person who had already seen the first episode of the four-part series told him “it’s so good not to see the Gherkin again”, Barry added.

The show stars Welsh actors Eve Myles, Gabrielle Creevy, Sion Daniel Young and Emun Elliott.

“I’m born and raised in Cardiff and I think what’s so great about our show is that we see a different side of Cardiff,” said Barry, who also executive produced the drama.

“We see a lot of affluence – a lot of wealth – and that’s not something that you see a huge amount on screen in Wales.”

Barry, who also wrote wrote one-off drama, Men Up, said: “We also have a slightly grittier side and it’s the collision of those two worlds that Eve described as like pulling the pin out of a grenade.”

Myles and Creevy play a successful business owner and her new “down on her luck” cleaner who is living on the breadline, Barry said.

He said their performances were “incredible, honest and real”, with the two characters becoming friends before their relationship becomes increasingly toxic and co-dependent.

“It’s a proper fun thrilling ride so I hope people enjoy it,” he said.