Exploring the Dual Nature of Welsh Scenery: From Majestic Beauty to Desolate Splendor

The BBC crime drama The One That Got Away centers around the murder of a nurse in a Welsh seaside town. The creator of this new series highlights how it will feature “beautiful and bleak” landscapes unique to Wales.

Catherine Tregenna penned The One That Got Away, which was shot in parts of South Wales and Pembroke Dock, areas that she personally loves the most. “Artists from all over the world are drawn there,” she notes, adding that she believes her show’s production team did a great job portraying these places.

With six episodes, the series explores how an old murder threatens to resurface in a Welsh seaside town, stirring tensions and raising questions about historical convictions. It was filmed simultaneously in English and Welsh, reflecting Tregenna’s fluency in both languages—she learned Welsh when she was ten years old but admits that her pronunciation still isn’t perfect.

The series delves into the complexities of a romantic relationship between Det Sgt Rich Sheldon, played by Richard Harrington, and Det Insp Ffion Lloyd. The two were once engaged before parting ways—a story line Tregenna describes as a “forensic analysis of a love affair.”

A recent murder further complicates matters in the town, casting doubt on past convictions and sparking fears of another killer following suit. According to Tregenna, many residents believe that all issues from years ago have been resolved since securing justice for previous crimes.

In crafting her characters, Tregenna sought to break away from typical portrayals of detectives as overworked loners who neglect their personal lives for the job. “We’ve introduced a contented detective sergeant with a family life and an ambitious inspector who values warmth and domesticity,” she explains.