Hidden (Welsh: Craith) is a Welsh television drama serial, created by Mark Andrew and Ed Talfan. It was initially broadcast in Welsh on the Welsh-language channel S4C under its Welsh name Craith. The bilingual version of the series, under the English name Hidden, was broadcast on BBC One Wales and BBC Four. The Welsh-language versions of the first two series aired on S4C in 2018 and 2019, respectively, with the third and final series beginning on 10 October 2021.[1] The English-language version of the third and final series aired in April 2022.
Plot
A body of a woman is found in the woods who is later identified as Mali Pryce, a troubled girl who went missing in 2011. Detective Inspector Cadi Jones and Owen Vaughan are leading the investigation. Injury marks on the body indicate that Mali had been held shackled by her abductor for all these years. Cadi finds evidence implying that Mali may not have been the only victim held by the abductor. Meanwhile Dylan Harris, a labourer is seen mistreated and beaten by his mother Iona.
Overview
Leading actress Sian Reese-Williams commented that the series was more of a "personal drama" than a crime series, because of the multiple human stories involved, including those of the victims, the families of the victims, and the criminal protagonist.[2] The format concentrates on "why" rather than "who" committed the crime.[1]
Melangell Dolma as Sam Shepherd, Owen's girlfriend, a solicitor (Series 1–2)
Lara Catrin as Lea Pryce, younger sister of Mali Pryce (Series 1 and 3)
Elodie Wilton as Nia Harris, Dylan's ten-year-old daughter (Series 1)
Rhodri Sion as Ieuan Rhys, a local drug dealer and hard man in Llanberis (Series 1)
Mark Lewis Jones as Endaf Elwy, imprisoned for the murder of his niece, Anna Williams (Series 1)
Ioan Hefin as Matthew Heston, neighbour of the Harris family (Series 1)
Mali Ann Rees as Ffion, Megan's best friend (Series 1)
Mali Tudno Jones as Dr Rachel West, the local pathologist, who becomes Cadi's girlfriend (Series 2–3)
Ffion Dafis as Kelly Owen, Mia's mother (Series 2)
Jac Jones as Liam Pritchard, Connor's younger brother (Series 2)
Dyfrig Evans as Glyn Jones, Kelly's boyfriend (Series 2)
Manon Prysor as Rhian Jenkins, estranged daughter of murder victim Geraint Elis (Series 2)
Gruffydd Owain Wyn Jones as Jason Williams, Lee's older brother (Series 2)
Mark Flanagan as Karl Lewis, a power station worker who once accused Geraint Elis of child abuse (Series 2)
Sion Pritchard as James Rhys, a former youth worker (Series 2)
Llion Williams as Ifan Jenkins, Rhian's controlling husband (Series 2)
Nia Hâf as Lois Jones, Elin's teenage daughter (Series 2)
Gwawr Loader as Police Constable Gwawr Daniels (Series 3)
Rhodri Evan as Father Richard McEwan, the local Catholic parish priest (Series 3)
Dritan Kastrati as Piotr Korecki, a Polish labourer (Series 3)
Oliver Jones as Ifan Williams, a murdered farmer (Series 3)
Rhian Blythe as Siwan Williams, wife of Ifan Williams, a murdered farmer (Series 3)
Lewsyn Blaidd Watts as Guto Williams, young son of Ifan and Siwan Williams (Series 3)
Gwen Ellis as Mair Williams, mother of Ifan Williams (Series 3)
William Thomas as Dafydd O'Connell, former farmhand on the Williams farm (Series 3)
Filming and release
Filming took place in 2017 in Bangor and Snowdonia.[3] The series was the second project on which Andrew and Talfan collaborated, following Hinterland. It was first broadcast as Craith, in Welsh, on S4C on 7 January 2018 and aired weekly.[4] A bi-lingual version of the series aired, mainly in English, on BBC One Wales and BBC Four in June 2018 under the title of Hidden.[5][6][2]
Hidden was renewed for a second series in February 2019, set largely in Blaenau Ffestiniog.[7] It broadcast first on S4C on 17 November 2019.
In January 2021, the BBC announced that a third series had been commissioned to air later in the year, with Sian Reese-Williams and Siôn Alun Davies returning in their roles of, respectively, DCI Cadi John and DS Owen Vaughan.[8] The series comprises six episodes.
Episodes
Airdates listed as per the S4C broadcast. English subtitled repeats were broadcast at 22:30 on Fridays. A bi-lingual version aired six months later on BBC One Wales on Tuesdays, being shown nationally on BBC Four on Saturday evenings.
Series 3 was broadcast on BBC4 and iPlayer from Saturday 19 March 2022.
A body of a woman is found in the woods who is later identified as Mali Pryce, a troubled girl who went missing in 2011. Detective Inspector Cadi Jones and Owen Vaughan are leading the investigation. Injury marks on the body indicate that Mali had been held shackled by her abductor for all these years. Cadi finds evidence implying that Mali may not have been the only victim held by the abductor. Meanwhile Dylan Harris, a labourer is seen mistreated and beaten by his mother Iona.
Blaenau Ffestiniog, nine months later. An anonymous phone call leads DCI Cadi John and DS Owen Vaughan to the corpse of an old man who has been decaying for weeks in his bath.
10
2
"Episode 2"
Gareth Bryn
Caryl Lewis
24 November 2019 (2019-11-24)
22 February 2020
0.46
0.51
Cadi and Owen look into the dead man’s background and discover there are reasons behind his reclusiveness. Connor confides in Mia about Geraint Ellis, and she convinces him that the old man deserved what happened to him. He still feels isolated after his fight with Lee, until he is reluctantly persuaded to go to a rave at the quarry.
11
3
"Episode 3"
Gareth Bryn
James Rourke
1 December 2019 (2019-12-01)
29 February 2020
0.41
0.53
The community gathers to mourn the passing of Geraint Ellis, and Mia cannot keep away. That night, she and her friends visit an old ruin with a dark history. Mia draws Connor closer to her.
12
4
"Episode 4"
Chris Forster
David Chidlow
8 December 2019 (2019-12-08)
7 March 2020
0.49
0.43
Karl Lewis admits while questioned by Cadi that the accusations he brought against Ellis were false. Cadi turns her attention to Mia, whose false testimony led to Karl's arrest.
13
5
"Episode 5"
Chris Forster
David Chidlow
15 December 2019 (2019-12-15)
14 March 2020
0.32
0.45
Cadi is informed that a body has been found at a remote petrol station outside Blaenau Ffestiniog. Suspecting the worst, she issues a warrant for Mia's arrest, but all efforts to trace her fail.
14
6
"Episode 6"
Chris Forster
Caryl Lewis
22 December 2019 (2019-12-22)
21 March 2020
0.36
0.47
Deep in the mountains, the search continues, before Cadi and Mia finally come face to face - the hunter and the hunted. The sad truth about the murders begins to emerge, with two innocent people killed and three young lives destroyed.
Series 3 (2022)
No. overall
No. in series
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
BBC Four airdate
S4C viewers (millions)
BBC Four viewers (millions)
15
1
"Episode 1"
Chris Forster
Caryl Lewis
10 October 2021 (2021-10-10)
19 March 2022
N/A
TBA
When the body of local farmer Ifan Williams is discovered in a remote river in the middle of the North Wales countryside, DCI Cadi John and DS Owen Vaughan are called to investigate. Cadi learns of the call whilst attending an interview for the role of DSI in Liverpool.
16
2
"Episode 2"
Chris Forster
Caryl Lewis
17 October 2021 (2021-10-17)
26 March 2022
N/A
TBA
Cadi has to admit the truth to Rachel about her new job. Father McEwan pays a visit to Sion and Glyn, but Sion is suspicious about his motives.
17
3
"Episode 3"
Chris Forster
Caryl Lewis
24 October 2021 (2021-10-24)
2 April 2022
N/A
TBA
DCI John and DS Vaughan make an arrest under cover of darkness, bringing Piotr Korecki in for questioning where he is shown incriminating CCTV footage. The interview concludes in the early hours of the morning and Cadi, still reeling from her argument with Rachel, sleeps alone in the office.
18
4
"Episode 4"
Andy Newbery
Caryl Lewis
31 October 2021 (2021-10-31)
9 April 2022
N/A
TBA
DCI John, along with DS Vaughan pay another visit to the farm. They speak again with Mair who reveals interesting information. After the visit, Cadi tells Vaughan about the job offer in Liverpool. Vaughan is pleased for his friend and colleague – but is Cadi beginning to regret her decision?
19
5
"Episode 5"
Andy Newbery
Liam Foley
7 November 2021 (2021-11-07)
16 April 2022
N/A
TBA
Tragic news spreads through the community. Cadi thinks she knows who is responsible for the murders and sends out a dispatch unit under cover of darkness. But will she be in time?
20
6
"Episode 6"
Andy Newbery
Caryl Lewis
14 November 2021 (2021-11-14)
23 April 2022
N/A
TBA
Cadi is in a race against time as she tries to prevent another tragedy unfolding. The truth about the murders begins to emerge and emotions are high.
Reception
The Guardian compared Hidden favourably to the Swedish Scandi-noir drama The Bridge, describing it as one of the "current powerhouse run of Wales-set dramas", with "scenes in Welsh to provide that sweet Nordic subtitles hit".[9] It went on to say "Hidden is perhaps the most confidently stylish and stylised yet. As well as a gorgeously gothic credits sequence, it features handsomely brooding landscapes, offbeat interior locations that go far beyond the usual bland corridors/offices of cop drama, and an ominous, skin-prickling soundtrack skilfully employed to heighten the sense of dread."[9]
