The Guest is the BBC’s latest thriller following the toxic relationship between well-accomplished businesswoman Fran Sharp (played by Eve Myles) and her unassuming employee Ria Powell (Gabrielle Creevy).
Ria has never had the chance to figure out what she really wants from life, but when she meets Fran (after being accused of shop lifting at the supermarket) and is offered a job by her, everything starts to shift.
As Ria begins to grow and gain confidence, the two form a powerful and intense bond. But when one of Fran’s suggestions leads to an unexpected and shocking turn, their lives become dangerously tangled in secrets and schemes.
The series explores themes of wealth and class and is set across two, very different sides of Wales. But, is it based on a true story?
Here’s everything you need to know about the four-part series.
Is The Guest based on a true story?
The Guest isn’t based on one true story, but some of the themes are inspired by real-life events.
Writer Matthew Bryne, who is behind The Guest, previously revealed that the show’s focus on class and its central relationship was shaped by his own experiences.
“I’m a working class boy from Cardiff myself, so I’ve always been really interested in themes of class and social mobility. There are scenes in the first episode that are completely ripped from my own life,” he said.
Photographer://BBC
In episode one, Fran gives a speech about people playing by different rules. Byrne says this was drawn from what he saw and felt during his years at Warwick University.
He added to Radio Times: “So a lot of it was kind of my experience of being a working class person entering a slightly more rarefied world. Even down to the chopsticks, I remember having chopsticks, ‘I don’t know how to use these chopsticks, and sushi and all these weird things.’ So I think I tried to borrow as much from my life for Ria as possible.”
The Guests airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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