'Excellent’ BBC drama based on true story has viewers on edge of seats

A new “excellent” BBC drama has viewers binging episodes in one sitting and, as promised, watching “from behind the sofa.”

The Guest launched on September 1 with all four episodes dropping at once on iPlayer. It stars Broadchurch’s Eve Myles as Fran Sharp, a businesswoman whose outward confidence masks dangerous secrets.

Opposite her is Gabrielle Creevy (Three Women) as Ria Powell, an impressionable employee who is pulled into Fran’s orbit. What begins as admiration soon spirals into obsession, manipulation and, eventually, catastrophe.

The story wastes little time establishing its unsettling core. Ria, struggling to find her place in the world, is swept up by Fran’s charm and her encouragement to take control of her life.

The advice proves intoxicating - and destructive. A shocking event binds the women together in ways neither can escape, and what follows is a tense game of psychological cat-and-mouse.

Directed by Ashley Way, the series makes full use of its Welsh backdrop. Filmed in Cardiff between September and November 2024, the production places its characters against striking scenery that reviewers have already described as “an added bonus” alongside the suspense.

Writer and creator Matthew Barry has called the drama “an examination of class, social mobility and the growing disparity between those at the top and bottom of our society.” That contrast is clear in the gulf between Fran’s wealth and Ria’s more modest circumstances. He had said that while the plot wasn't focused on one particular true story, "many of the scenes are completely ripped" from his own life and lives of people around him.

The supporting cast features Siôn Daniel Young (Deceit) as Lee Mace, Bethan Mary-James as Sharla, Julian Lewis Jones as Simon Sharp, Clive Russell as Derek Abbott and Joseph Ollman as Mike Rice, among others. Together they flesh out a story that critics and viewers alike have called both “captivating” and “edge of the seat.”

So, does The Guest live up to its billing as one of the BBC’s must-watch dramas of the year? Audience reaction suggests it does.

On Google, one reviewer called it “very gripping and really makes you look twice at cultural societal differences. We all want what we don’t have and somewhat think that if we strive harder we’ll make it. The characters are so relatable and have their own crosses to bear.”

Another praised it as “brilliant acting, fantastic plotline, which kept me guessing to the very end. The wonderful scenery was an added bonus.”

Others highlighted the sense of tension, with one fan writing: “Wow!!! This was edge of the seat. I actually felt anxious watching it. Amazing acting. Never seen Eve Myles in a role like this. Lots of suspense, jumps and edge of the seat moments.”

That sentiment was echoed by another viewer, who admitted: “I had to binge-watch this as it was so good.” A further comment praised the show as “excellent – one of the best BBC dramas in years.”

All four episodes of The Guest are now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.