''Hidden'' ( cy, 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 BBC One Wales is a Welsh television channel owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales. It is the Welsh variation of the UK-wide BBC One and is broadcast from Central Square in Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city ...

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. The English-language version of the third and final series aired in April 2022.

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. The format concentrates on "why" rather than "who" committed the crime.

Cast

Main

* Sian Reese-Williams as

Detective Inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia In Australian police forces, the rank of inspector is generally the ne ...

(later Detective Chief Inspector) Cadi John, a former soldier * Siôn Alun Davies as

Detective Sergeant Sergeant ( abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other ...

Owen Vaughan, a local boy who grew up on a tough housing estate in Caernarfon * Nia Roberts as Dr Elin Jones, Cadi's older sister, a hospital doctor * Lois Meleri-Jones as Lowri Driscoll, a

district nurse District Nurses work manage care within the community and lead teams of community nurses and support workers. The role requires registered nurses to take a NMC approved specialist practitioner course. Duties generally include visiting house-bound ...

(main, series 1; guest, series 2) *

Rhodri Meilir Rhodri Meilir (born 18 November 1978) is a Welsh actor. In 2018, he began portraying the role of Dilwyn in the BBC Three series ''In My Skin (TV series), In My Skin''. Early life Meilir was born in Pontypool. He was educated at Ysgol Maes Garmo ...

as Dylan Harris, a labourer (Series 1) * Gillian Elisa as Iona Harris, Dylan's mother (Series 1) * Gwyneth Keyworth as Megan Ruddock, a first-year psychology student at Bangor University (Series 1) * Ian Saynor as Huw John, Cadi's terminally ill father, a retired

detective superintendent Superintendent (Supt) is a rank in the British police and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries, the full version is superintendent of police (SP). The rank is also used in most British Overseas Territories ...

(Series 1) * Owen Arwyn as Alun Pryce, father of Mali Pryce (Series 1) * Greta James as Mali Pryce (Series 1) * Annes Elwy as Mia Owen, schoolgirl (Series 2) * Steffan Cennydd as Connor Pritchard, schoolboy (Series 2) * Lisa Victoria as Catrin Pritchard, Connor's mother (Series 2) * Siôn Eifion as Lee Williams, a cousin of Mia (Series 2) *

Bryn Fôn Bryn Fôn (born 27 August 1954) is a Welsh actor and singer-songwriter. He also became the first ever artist to play live on BBC Radio Cymru in 1977. Biography Bryn Fôn was born in Llanllyfni, Caernarfonshire. He attended Ysgol Gynradd Lla ...

as Hefin Mathews, owner of a rural garage and petrol station (Series 2) * Lois Elenid as Beca Mathews, Hefin's daughter (Series 2) * Owain Gwynn as Siôn Wells, Hefin's tenant opposite the garage (Series 2) * Justin Melluish as Glyn Thomas, a pigeon fancier who has

Down's syndrome Down syndrome or Down's syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is usually associated with physical growth delays, mild to moderate intellectual disa ...

(Series 3) * Sion Ifan as Siôn Thomas, Glyn's younger brother, a labourer (Series 3) * Elen Rhys as Hannah Lewis, Glyn's employer and Siôn's ex-girlfriend (Series 3)

Recurring

* Megan Llŷn as Bethan John, younger sister of Cadi and Elin * Victoria Pugh as

Detective Superintendent Superintendent (Supt) is a rank in the British police and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries, the full version is superintendent of police (SP). The rank is also used in most British Overseas Territories ...

Susan Lynn * Lowri Izzard as

Police Constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

Mari James (Series 1–2) * Garmon Rhys as Police Constable Ryan Davies * Sarah Tempest as

Detective Constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

Alys Mitchell * 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 (; ) is a village, community and electoral ward in Gwynedd, northwest Wales, on the southern bank of the lake and at the foot of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. It is a centre for outdoor activities in Snowdonia, including walking ...

(Series 1) *

Mark Lewis Jones Mark Lewis Jones (born 31 August, 1964) is a Welsh actor, whose roles include that of a First Order Captain Moden Canady in '' Star Wars: The Last Jedi'', a police inspector in BBC drama series ''55 Degrees North'', a whaler in the film '' Mast ...

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) * 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 Snowdonia or Eryri (), is a mountainous region in northwestern Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951. Name and extent It was a commonly held belief that the na ...

. The series was the second project on which Andrew and Talfan collaborated, following ''

Hinterland Hinterland is a German word meaning "the land behind" (a city, a port, or similar). Its use in English was first documented by the geographer George Chisholm in his ''Handbook of Commercial Geography'' (1888). Originally the term was associated ...

''. It was first broadcast as ''Craith'', in Welsh, on S4C on 7 January 2018 and aired weekly. A bi-lingual version of the series aired, mainly in English, on

and BBC Four in June 2018 under the title of ''Hidden''. ''Hidden'' was renewed for a second series in February 2019, set largely in Blaenau Ffestiniog. 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. 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.

Series 1 (2018)

Series 2 (2019)

Series 3 (2022)

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". 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."

References

External links

* * {{IMDb title, id=7217374, title=Hidden 2018 British television series debuts 2010s British crime drama television series 2010s British mystery television series 2010s Welsh television series BBC Cymru Wales television shows BBC television dramas British detective television series S4C original programming Television shows set in Wales