Thriller junkies, add The Guest to your watchlist ASAP.
The first episode of the TV series aired on BBC One and Wales on Monday 1 September at 9pm, with one episode a week airing on Monday evening at 9pm until 22 September. All episodes are also available to watch on BBC iPlayer, if you can't wait.
Starring Eve Myles and Gabrielle Creevy as leads Fran and Ria, what many of us were left wondering after watching is where was The Guest filmed?
With beautiful locations across Newport, Cardiff and Swansea, the new series joins the ranks of other popular TV series filming in Welsh locations, such as Doctor Who, Tom Hardy's Havoc and – of course – Gavin and Stacey. In fact, The Guest even shares a few filming locations with the latter!
Here's everything we know about the series, including all the gorgeous The Guest filming locations.
Who will Belly choose?
What is The Guest about?
A plot synopsis from the BBC reads as follows: "Filmed and set in Wales, the four-part drama The Guest is a propulsive, twisting thriller that centres on the intense, toxic relationship between cleaner, Ria, and her mysterious employer, Fran.
As the two women’s lives become intertwined by shared secrets, an obsessive co-dependence emerges that ultimately threatens to become dangerous and manipulative - a psychological game of cat-and-mouse."
The Guest filming locations
A lot of the drama unfolds at Maybury Court, Fran and her husband Simon's rather grand estate, their Manor House and Guest House. It's almost a character in itself, as its lavish surroundings really highlights Fran's lavish lifestyle and wealth in comparison to Ria.
Scenes for this were filmed at Whitson Court, which is located near Newport. The building has its own history, as it was once home to German and Jewish refugees during World War Two. It also once hosted a large zoo, Whitson Zoo, during the 1960s and 1970s, belonging to Olive Maybury.
The zoo housed many different creatures – including monkeys, lions and Himalayan bears – and shut down during the 1980s.
“When you first see those gates open, it feels almost magical, like stepping into a fairy tale or a grand castle,” Ria actor Gabrielle Creevy has said of filming at Whitson Court. "It’s that feeling of wonder you get when you’re younger, imagining what it would be like to live in a place like that.
"That is exactly how Ria feels when she first sees it, it’s like her chance at a new life. The location is stunning; the grounds are vast, and the landscape of Wales looks beautiful. It really adds a layer of charm and mystery to the story."
“The house is in the area of Newport, it's on the outskirts of Newport. It is the most exquisite house I have ever stepped foot into,” Eve added.
"They have done the most beautiful job on that house, there were peacocks in the garden and it's just absolutely beautiful. It's got an incredible history, the building, that's the first time that location has been shot at, it's just magnificent."
Cardiff's city centre features a lot throughout the series, including Hayes Island Snack Bar, an institution that was used as a high street café in the series. It's also the oldest snack bar in Wales, opened in 1948. Being a staple of the city's food scene, the snack bar is a great place to encapsulate the soul of the city on screen.
Ria and Mike's date night in episode one of the series was filmed at Cardiff's iconic cocktail bar Gin and Juice. They had a great night at the bar, located in the city's Castle Arcade, drinking mojitos.
Located just outside Cardiff, Hensol Castle was used to film scenes in The Guest, specifically for the Bristol apartment and Oakwood Care Home.
The castle is also a wedding venue and hosts a gin distillery in its cellar. It's also part of the Vale Resort, which has an award-winning spa, a golf course and a hotel complex.
The popular pub on the outskirts of Cardiff was also used in the opening episode for Ria's friend's birthday party. It's the perfect example of a quintessential British pub, with 1950s and 60s cosy vibes. Another date between Ria and Mike at a curry house was filmed at Cardiff's Mattancherry.
We also know that the city's IRL police station was used tor both internal and external scenes after the dramatic events of the opening episodes.
Cardiff's lavish Parkgate Hotel was used to film scenes in Fran (Eve Myles) and Richard (Emun Elliott)'s hotel room. It was also used to film scenes for the epic Gavin and Stacey finale, so The Guest is in great company.
Located on Westgate Street, the hotel used to be home to Cardiff's post office and county court, and now boasts lavish rooms and a spa.
The true home of Gavin and Stacey, Barry, was also a key The Guest location – the Savoy Snooker Club on Broad St seen in the series in Barry for scenes of Lee hanging out with his friends, while an attack scene by a Premier corner shop was also filmed in Barry.
All the stunning seaside landscape shots were filmed across the Swansea cost, with the area's coastal path, remote National Trust dwelling The Old Rectory and Rhossili Bay featured. The Old Rectory is the only building in the entire bay, which also features in TV series Torchwood.
