Keeping Faith (Welsh: Un Bore Mercher, "One Wednesday Morning") is a British thriller television series, filmed and set in Wales, and first broadcast in Welsh on S4C from 5 November 2017.
| Keeping Faith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | Un Bore Mercher (One Wednesday Morning) |
| Genre | Thriller |
| Created by | Matthew Hall |
| Directed by | Pip Broughton Andy Newbery |
| Starring | |
| Composers | Laurence Love Greed Amy Wadge |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original languages | Filmed concurrently in both the Welsh language and in English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 20 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Adrian Bate Maggie Russell Shane Murphy |
| Producers | Pip Broughton Nora Ostler |
| Production locations | Carmarthen Laugharne Carmarthenshire Swansea Vale of Glamorgan |
| Cinematography | Steve Lawes Rory Taylor Bjorn Bratberg |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production companies | Vox Pictures, Nevision, Cinematic Productions, Soundworks, About Premium Content |
| Original release | |
| Network | S4C (Welsh Version) BBC One Wales (English Version) |
| Release | 5 November 2017 – 6 December 2020 |
Created by Matthew Hall and produced by Vox Pictures.[1] The series stars Eve Myles as Faith Howells, a solicitor at a family-run law firm whose husband, Evan, disappears whilst she is on maternity leave following the birth of their third child.
Renamed Keeping Faith, the English version premiered on BBC One Wales on 13 February 2018. The first series co-stars Hannah Daniel, Matthew Gravelle, Bradley Freegard, Mark Lewis Jones, Mali Harries and Aneirin Hughes.[2][1] The show was extremely popular in Wales, with an average of 300,000 viewers per episode, making it the most popular show on BBC Wales for over 25 years and, with over 8.5 million downloads by May 2018, the most downloaded non-network show on BBC iPlayer.[3]
Filmed concurrently in both languages, this series is the second in a season of bilingual dramas set to premiere back-to-back on S4C.[1] The initial Welsh language broadcast on S4C carried entirely English subtitles, while repeat airings carried encoded English subtitles. The series has been available on the BBC iPlayer as part of the BBC's ongoing relationship with S4C.[4]
On 15 June 2018, the BBC announced that Keeping Faith would be shown across the UK on BBC One, beginning on 10 July 2018.[5] The Head of Commissioning for BBC Wales, Nick Andrews, said that the series had been "a real gem from start to finish", and a testament to the strength of drama coming out of Wales.[6][7]
With series one ending with a cliff-hanger, Huw Thomas, the BBC Wales arts and media correspondent, wrote on 6 May 2018 that a second series is in development, and later that year, the second series was commissioned.[8] Production began in September 2018 and broadcast in Wales, first in Welsh (with English subtitles) on S4C, from 12 May 2019; nationally shown on BBC One in English during July–August 2019.[9]
The third and final series premiered on S4C (as Un Bore Mercher) in 2020 during November and December,[10] and the English language broadcast began on BBC One on 27 March 2021. This series was made available on the BBC iPlayer on 27 March 2021.[11] By May 2021 the series had had over 50 million views on BBC iPlayer.[12]
Cast
edit- Eve Myles as Faith Howells; solicitor and mother of three. Evan Howells' wife
- Bradley Freegard as Evan Howells; struck off solicitor. Faith's husband
- Demi Letherby as Alys Howells; elder daughter of Faith and Evan
- Lacey Jones as Megan Howells; younger daughter of Faith and Evan
- Oscar & Harry Unsworth as Rhodri Howells; son of Faith and Evan
- Aneirin Hughes as Tom Howells; Evan's father and solicitor
- Hannah Daniel as Cerys Jones; solicitor at Howells
- Betsan Llwyd (Un Bore Mercher) / Suzanne Packer (Keeping Faith) as Delyth Lloyd; Howells office administrator
- Eiry Thomas as DI (Series 1), PC (Series 2), DS (Series 3) Susan Williams; Abercorran police
- Steffan Rhodri as Judge Gwyn Daniels
- Matthew Gravelle as PC Terry Price; Abercorran police (Series 1)
- Mali Harries as Bethan Price; Terry's wife and Evan's sister (Series 1)
- Rhian Morgan as Marion Howells; Evan's mother
- Mark Lewis Jones as Steve Baldini; client
- Martha Bright as Angie Baldini; Steve's daughter
- Alex Harries as Arthur Davies; client
- Catherine Ayers as Lisa Connors; Faith's best friend
- Angeline Ball (Series 1) / Anastasia Hille (Series 2) as Gael Reardon; widow of Paddy Reardon
- Richard Elfyn as DCI Huw Parry of Swansea police (Series 1)
- Lowri Palfrey as Erin Glynn; client (Series 1)
- Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Madlen Vaughan; client (Series 2)
- Brochan Evans as Dyfan Vaughan; Madlen's son (Series 2)
- Rhashan Stone as DI Laurence Breeze; CID detective (Series 2 and 3)
- Rhian Blythe as Anya Flye; Howells' bank manager (Series 2)
- Richard Lynch as Hayden Swancott QC (Series 2)
- Francesca Dimech as Mrs. Kriprinski (Series 2)
- Siân Phillips as Judge Alwen Owens (Series 3)
- Celia Imrie as Rose Fairchild; Faith's mother (Series 3)
- Matthew Aubrey as Mike Taylor (Series 3)
- Keogh Kiernan as Osian Taylor (Series 3)
- Sion Daniel Young as Gareth; Osian's nurse (Series 3)
- Marc Antolin as Professor Rhys (Series 3)
- Rachel Cheung as the gym manager (Series 3)
Episodes
edit| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | Network | |||
| 1 | 8 | 5 November 2017 | 24 December 2017 | S4C | |
| 2 | 6 | 12 May 2019 | 16 June 2019 | S4C | |
| 3 | 6 | 1 November 2020 | 6 December 2020 | S4C | |
Series 1 (2017)
edit| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | BBC One English airdate | Wales (S4C) viewers (millions) [13] | BBC One viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall | 5 November 2017 | 10 July 2018 | 0.46 | 4.78 |
| 2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall & Sian Naiomi | 12 November 2017 | 17 July 2018 | 0.37 | 4.08 |
| 3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall | 19 November 2017 | 24 July 2018 | <0.20 | 4.24 |
| 4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall & Anwen Huws | 26 November 2017 | 31 July 2018 | 0.36 | 4.38 |
| 5 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Andy Newbery | Matthew Hall | 3 December 2017 | 7 August 2018 | 0.32 | 3.99 |
| 6 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Andy Newbery | Matthew Hall | 10 December 2017 | 14 August 2018 | <0.24 | 4.01 |
| 7 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall | 17 December 2017 | 21 August 2018 | 0.22 | 4.13 |
| 8 | 8 | "Episode 8" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall | 24 December 2017 | 28 August 2018 | 0.23 | 4.33 |
Series 2 (2019)
edit| No. overall | No. in series | Title [14] | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | BBC One English airdate | Wales viewers (millions) | BBC One viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall | 12 May 2019 | 23 July 2019 | 0.64 | 5.38 |
| 10 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Judith Dine | Matthew Hall | 19 May 2019 | 30 July 2019 | 0.50 | 3.92 |
| 11 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Judith Dine | Pip Broughton | 26 May 2019 | 6 August 2019 | 0.38 | N/A (<3.84)[a] |
| 12 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Pip Broughton | Pip Broughton | 2 June 2019 | 13 August 2019 | 0.35 | N/A (<3.71)[a] |
| 13 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall | 9 June 2019 | 20 August 2019 | 0.40 | N/A (<3.50)[a] |
| 14 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall | 16 June 2019 | 27 August 2019 | 0.45 | N/A (<3.74)[a] |
Series 3 (2021)
edit| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall | 27 March 2021 |
| 16 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Pip Broughton | Matthew Hall, Pip Broughton | 3 April 2021 |
| 17 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Judith Dine | Matthew Hall | 10 April 2021 |
| 18 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Pip Broughton | Pip Broughton | 17 April 2021 |
| 19 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Judith Dine | Matthew Hall | 24 April 2021 |
| 20 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Judith Dine | Matthew Hall | 1 May 2021 |
Production
editSet in the fictional town of Abercorran, filming started in the summer of 2017 in Carmarthenshire, with exterior views of Faith's home situated high up overlooking the estuary and the castle of Laugharne. Many scenes were shot in Laugharne, also in Carmarthen; the main square and the historic courtroom in Carmarthen Guildhall was used for scenes. Other courtroom scenes feature the former courthouse at Swansea. Studio scenes were filmed at Sony UK Technology Centre's Ffilm Factory 35 in Pencoed. The Vale of Glamorgan, Pontardawe and Swansea were other filming locations.[15][16]
Vox pictures produced the drama with the aid of Nevision, Cinematic Productions, Soundworks and About Premium Content. The production of the programme was funded through the Welsh Government's Media Investment Budget, which is advised by Pinewood Pictures, S4C and BBC Wales. Location assistance was provided by Wales Screen, part of the Welsh Government's creative industries team, helping to maximise the economic benefits for Wales.[17]
Gwawr Martha Lloyd, S4C Drama Content Commissioner, said of the series; "We're very excited about this new and original series that will be premiering on S4C this autumn. With a stellar cast and a completely compelling story, plot and setting, we're hoping the audience will grow to love the world and the characters of Un Bore Mercher as much as we in S4C have as we worked to develop the series. The series intends to take the viewer on a thrilling, emotional and warm journey, which will pull at their heart-strings but will also make them smile along the way."[18]
Critical reception
editThe series has generally received favourable responses and was described in The Guardian[19] as, "a bit like Big Little Lies relocated to rural Wales". As Un Bore Mercher, the Welsh version of the series gained strong reviews.[20] Gary Raymond, in Wales Arts Review, wrote: "...particularly interesting to see a genuine diamond emerge from the coalface in the form of Keeping Faith" and "Social media opinion has been a little more approving" [than the limited publicity surrounding the series].[21]
Lydia Morris at the UK Daily Post wrote that the programme "...has already proved a hit with TV audiences".[22] A review (under 'Show and Tell' by Paul Flynn) in Grazia magazine was titled "Like Broadchurch when it was good, Welsh production Keeping Faith is a TV trailblazer" and was generous with its praise.[23] Writing in The Times, Nicole Wynne described it as "...the dual-language drama that has got box-set Britain gripped".[2] On 2 May 2018, Stuart Heritage of the i warned, "Watch this game-changing thriller while you still can".[24] Jon Coates in the Daily Express wrote, "Keeping Faith's unprecedented success ... has led to a primetime run on BBC One starting on Thursday ... with a second series due to begin filming this autumn."[25] The Guardian review in July 2018, "... already a huge iPlayer hit, this Carmarthen-set drama about a vanished husband is realistic and beautifully shot ... it looks real and brilliant and Welsh".[26] 'crimefictionlover' wrote: "The BBC has a secret... it's worth seeking out".[27]
The first series won three Welsh BAFTAs in 2018: Best Actress (Eve Myles), Best Writer (Matthew Hall) and Original Music (Amy Wadge and Laurence Love Greed).[7]
Music
editSix original songs were composed by the singer-songwriter Amy Wadge. The English and Welsh soundtracks were released as EPs on iTunes on Friday 9 March 2018. The English versions are sung by Amy Wadge[28] and the Welsh versions by Ela Hughes.[29] The score music was written by Laurence Love Greed.[30][31]
Adaptations
editA French remake of the series starring Cécile Bois, called Gloria, was released by TF1 in March 2021.[32] A South Korean adaptation titled Hide, starring Lee Bo-young, will air on JTBC and Coupang Play beginning March 2024.
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "S4C Press release: Three drama series to fire the imagination... Bang; Un Bore Mercher; Craith". s4c.wales. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ a b Welsh TV noir Keeping Faith leaves Scandis for dead Nicole Wynne, The Times, 29 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ Work begins on second series of record-breaking BBC Wales drama ...The eight-part series, starring Eve Myles (Broadchurch/Victoria), has broken a string of records over recent weeks... at bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Un Bore Mercher – BBC – S4C '...Mystery drama about a woman whose husband disappears.'". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Record-breaking BBC Wales/S4C drama Keeping Faith to be broadcast across the UK on BBC One www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre, 15 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ Keeping Faith series 1 episode 1 at iPlayer after BBC1 broadcast bbc.co.uk/iplayer. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Keeping Faith wins big at Bafta Cymru awards in Cardiff". BBC News. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ "Keeping Faith: BBC Wales drama back for second series". BBC News. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Radio Times: When is Keeping Faith series 2 on TV?". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ^ "Un Bore Mercher comes back to S4C for the final time". S4C. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "Keeping Faith - series three". bbc.co.uk/programmes. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Keeping Faith streamed 50 million times on BBC iPlayer". BBC. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ "Weekly top 30 programmes – BARB". barb.co.uk.
- ^ "Keeping Faith – Listings". Next Episode. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- ^ Robert Harries, 19 April 2017, 'Filming for new TV drama gets under way in historic Carmarthen building' walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Footage gives public a rare glimpse inside a former Swansea courthouse used as a set for new BBC drama walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Jones, Rachel (6 November 2017). "Bilingual Television Thriller Keeping Faith Films in South Wales". BusinessNewsWales. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ Filming starts on new joint BBC Wales and S4C drama series 13 April 2017, BBC. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Virtue, Graeme (27 February 2018). "Dimension overload: why TV can't get enough of parallel universes". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ Morgan Jeffery, 13 February 2018: "Eve Myles almost quit acting before she was offered new BBC series Keeping Faith" 'The Welsh-language version of Keeping Faith has already aired on S4C, under the title of Un Bore Mercher, with the series – and in particular Myles's performance – earning strong reviews.' Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ Gary Raymond, 2 March 2018– Reviews, Film & TV, Keeping Faith walesartsreview.org. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Lydia Morris 14 February 2018: The actress who learned Welsh to land Keeping Faith lead role dailypost.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Paul Flynn 'Show and Tell' (review) in Grazia magazine (ISSN 1120-5113), p.110, headed 'Like Broadchurch when it was good, Welsh production Keeping Faith is a TV trailblazer' ... "It's what happens to the gloriously little folk when big events calamitously fall onto the doorstep. The characters' reactions to Evan's disappearance are entirely human, local and believable. Catch up, please." Viewed 16 March 2018
- ^ Keeping Faith is about to vanish from iPlayer. Watch this game-changing thriller while you still can. Accessed 3 May 2018
- ^ Why a TV writer put his faith in Wales Daily Express, 9 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ Keeping Faith review – a brilliant Welsh answer to Broadchurch at theguardian.com. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ Keeping Faith: The BBC's hidden Welsh gem 5 July 2018 at crimefictionlover.com. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ Keeping Faith – EP Amy Wadge iTunes Store. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Un Bore Mercher – EP Ela Hughes iTunes Store. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Laurence Love Greed (Laurence's recent composer credits include the score for BBC thriller Keeping Faith), at fabermusic.com. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ Keeping Faith Soundtrack Tracklist (Un Bore Mercher) Music from TV Series (Type: Original Television Soundtrack/ Music by Laurence Love Greed/ Label: Laurence Love Greed/ Format: Digital Date: 4 April 2018) YouTube. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Gloria at IMDb