Game of Thrones and Friday Night Dinner stars lead new BBC One thriller as lineup is revealed

GAME of Thrones and Friday Night Dinner stars Clive Russell and Bethan Mary-James are teaming up for a brand new BBC One thriller called The Guest. 

The Guest will be a four-part drama produced by Quay Street Productions who were responsible for bringing Fool Me Once to the screen. 

The Guest is “a brand-new and propulsive thriller” which is written and executive produced by Matthew Barry (Men Up, Industry) who is continuing his working relationship with Quay Street Productions.

It will star Clive Russell who is best known for playing Brynden Tully in Game of Thrones and Bethan Mary-James who viewers might recognise as PC Sally Gatley in Friday Night Dinner.

Alongside Clive and Bethan, Broadchurch star Eve Myles and Operation Mincemeat actor Gabrielle Creevy have been cast in the lead roles. 

Joining them are Cardiff-born actor Sion Daniel Young (Slow Horses), Emun Elliott (Guilt), Julian Lewis Jones (House Of the Dragon), Joseph Ollman (The Tattooist of Auschwitz), and Catherine Ayers (Missing You).

According to the official synopsis for the thriller, The Guest is a fast-paced story that centres on the toxic and beguiling relationship between a successful business owner, Fran, and her employee, Ria.

Ria has never had the time or opportunity to think about what she might actually want from the world. So, when she starts cleaning for Fran, she’s intoxicated by this confident and self-assured woman who encourages her to take control of her life and, when Ria flourishes, an intense friendship is forged.

However, when Fran’s advice leads to a shocking event, the lives of these two very different women become intertwined by shared secrets and dangerous plots. What follows is a compelling and manipulative game of cat-and-mouse. But just who is playing who?

The series will consist of four hour-long episodes and begins shooting this month in and around Cardiff.

Speaking about the upcoming thriller, writer Matthew Barry said: “I’m beyond excited to be re-teaming with Nicola, Davina and the whole team at Quay Street Productions and the BBC to bring The Guest to life. 

“As well as being an exciting thriller, at its core this is an examination of class, social mobility and the growing disparity between those at the top and bottom of our society.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added: “The Guest is a hugely entertaining, deftly plotted thriller that will have viewers gripped. After the fantastic, five-star response to the tender and life-affirming Men Up, we’re delighted to join forces again with Matthew Barry and Quay Street Productions on another Welsh-set drama, alongside this fantastic cast.”

Quay Street executive producers Davina Earl and Nicola Shindler also praised the thriller for putting “two fascinating women at its heart.

“Matt’s scripts are not only full of tension and twists but deeply relatable characters and his trademark wit and humour,” they said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales, Nick Andrews said the series will have viewers gripped from the get go.

“The Guest is a twisty-turny edge of your seat thriller, which you will be watching from behind your sofa. Matt has written a beautifully crafted tense story – an absolute showstopper of a series produced by some of the very best in the business,” he said.