The Guest on BBC One: Plot, episodes, location & start date of 'twisty edge of your seat thriller'
By Helen Fear | Fri May 23 2025The Guest is a brand new thriller coming soon to BBC One, which combines some of our favourite TV people with a seriously gripping plot - here's everything you need to know about the upcoming series.
The always reliable Beeb has announced some very exciting news for fans of fast-paced nail-biters. It has commissioned "a brand-new propulsive thriller" written, created and executive produced by Matthew Barry. He's the man behind Men Up, and Industry.
And with Eve Myles at the front as leading lady, it's already looking like quite the hit. Here's an insider's guide to The Guest on BBC One, including plot, cast, start date, location, and episodes.
What's the plot of The Guest on BBC One?
The BBC One series - made in a co-commission with BBC Cymru Wales - is described as an "addictive, fast-paced story that centres on the toxic relationship between a successful business owner, Fran, and her employee, Ria".
Ria is a young woman who has never had the time or opportunity to think about what she might actually want from the world in the future. When she gets a job cleaning for Fran, she becomes drawn to her.
Fran comes across as a confident woman who has made a success of her life. She encourages Ria to take control of her life and the two start to form a friendship.
A synopsis adds: "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?"
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: "The Guest is a hugely entertaining, deftly-plotted thriller that will have viewers gripped."
How many episodes is it?
The Guest will consist of four episodes, which will air on BBC One and iPlayer.
Each episode will be one hour long. The channel has not yet confirmed if the series will land as a boxset on the day the first episode airs.
Watch this space for more information as and when we get it.
Who's in the cast?
The Guest stars Eve Myles as successful business woman Fran, who takes Ria under her wing when she starts cleaning for her.
Actress Eve is best known for playing Ceri in the Welsh drama Belonging, and Faith Howells in Keeping Faith. Torchwood fans will know her for playing Gwen Cooper in the BBC drana. Other big roles include the title character in Frankie Maddox, Claire Ripley in Broadchurch, Lauren Grey in You, Me & Them, and DS Lola Franks in We Hunt Together.
She recently played Alice Sinclair in the Idris Elba thriller Hijack, and DCI Jeanette Kilburn in The Crow Girl.
Gabrielle Creevy portrays young Ria, whose new boss has a big influence on her. She's known for her roles in The Pact, Three Women, and Black Doves. Between 2018 and 2022, Gabrielle starred as Bethan Gwyndaff in dark coming-of-age drama In My Skin.
The four-part thriller The Guest will also star Slow Horses' Sion Daniel Young, The Gold's Emun Elliott, and Living a Lie's Catherine Ayers.
Other supporting cast includes:
- The Collection's Bethan Mary- James
- Stella's Julian Lewis Jones
- Domina's Joseph Ollman
- Ripper Street's Clive Russell
'A thriller with two fascinating women at its heart'
Talking about the upcoming series, Quay Street Productions' Davina Earl and Nicola Shindler said: "We're so thrilled to be working on a thriller with two fascinating women at its heart. Matthew Barry's scripts are not only full of tension and twists but deeply relatable characters and his trademark wit and humour."
Writer Matthew Barry said himself: "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."
Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales, Nick Andrews added: "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."
The Guest filming locations
The Guest is another BBC drama set in Wales. It starts shooting this month in and around Cardiff in Wales.
The four-part series has received Welsh Government support via Creative Wales, and is produced by Quay Street Productions.
Like Keeping Faith, Death Valley, The Pact, Gavin & Stacey, and Men Up, it celebrates Welsh actors and Wales as a filming location.
When is the start date? How can I watch?
The BBC has not yet released a start date for The Guest, but we're expecting it to land sometime later in 2025.
It will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. We'll update you as soon as we know more.
