4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Outlander star unrecognisable in 'dark' mystery thriller returning after three-year wait
The star has a brand-new project worlds away from Outlander
One Outlander cast member has been completely transformed in their new role in a mystery thriller.
The star, whose Outlander character caused much tension and drama at Fraser's Ridge and beyond, will be part of an ensemble cast in the forthcoming drama.
Welsh star Mark Lewis Jones, who played Tom Christie in season six of Starz's epic historical series, will be starring as Rhys Owen in the drama Y Golau: Dŵr, also known as The Light in the Hall: Still Waters in the English-language version.
The show makes its triumphant return three years after its debut The Light in the Hall back in 2022.
Season two of the acclaimed Welsh anthology series follows young journalist Caryl Huws (played by Siân Reese-Williams), who becomes entangled in complex web of personal betrayal, familial secrets, and dark mysteries after she starts digging into a controversial redevelopment plan to expand a local reservoir.
As Caryl investigates further, long-forgotten tensions are reignited and doubt is thrown onto the imprisonment of Rhys for the murder of his cousin during protests against the expansion 30 years ago.
Along with Jones and Reese-Williams, The Light in the Hall: Still Waters/Y Golau: Dŵr also features Steeltown Murders star Nia Roberts as as Eve Davies, and Robert Glenister from The Night Caller and Sherwood as Robert Davies.
Further cast members include, Netflix's White Lines actor Tom Rhys Harries as Hari Breckon, The Red King's Maeve Courtier-Lilley who reprises her role as Mabli Davies Owen, Dal Y Mellt actor Wyn Bowen Harries as Bryn Owen, Mali Tudno Jones from Bariau as Megan Breckon, Broadchurch actor Matthew Gravelle as Gareth Breckon, and 35 Awr star Gillian Elisa as Eunice.
The new series will again be set in the fictional Welsh village of Llanemlyn, with creator Regina Moriarty working alongside Siân Naiomi, Anwen Huws, Catherine Linstrum, and Angharad Elen on the scripts.
The Light in the Hall: Still Waters/Y Golau: Dŵr will first be airing in its native Wales in the Welsh language version with subtitles this September. The programme airs at a later date in the rest of the UK on Channel 4.
Season one received positive reviews from the critics with audience members sharing their praise on IMDb.
One person hailed it as 'mesmerising' and commented: 'Wow this was good. Joanna Scanlon and Alexander Roach both starred in the brilliant No Offence and are both excellent here too.'
While a 10/10 review said: 'Once you start watching it you can't stop, you're almost holding your breath! Actors are absolutely amazing, spot on!'
The user added: 'You will not waste your time watching this, and I always love when they film absolutely beautiful, and I don't think I've ever seen a show with any one of these individual actors in it that I didn't like, they never let you down, their faces are what draw you in, because you know they're great actors but they're acting keeps you watching!'
Another top-tier review read: 'In a world where popular crime dramas fall into the same predictable formula, it's refreshing to see something brave enough to do things a bit differently.
'The early episodes start at a slow pace, but there's a real effort to develop the central characters before it changes gear and becomes a highly engaging (and unpredictable) thriller.
'The decision to set the show in the dramatic Welsh countryside was a triumph and a 6 episode British crime drama with very little police involvement is both refreshing and bold.'
Outlander season 8 will air on Starz and MGM+ via Prime Video in early 2026
