If you're in the market for some good crime drama news, we're here to deliver it. Channel 4's genius crime drama, The Light in the Hall, which proved a huge hit with fans when it first aired two years ago, is officially returning for another instalment - and there are some exciting cast updates. Sherwood’s Robert Glenister and Keeping Faith’s Mark Lewis-Jones are teaming up for the "darker" second series, which will expose a complex web of personal betrayal.
Much like hit drama Keeping Faith, The Light in the Hall premiered in Welsh, before getting an English language version - and we're extremely glad it did. Set in the fictional town of Llanemlyn, Wales, series one introduced us to Sharon (Joanna Scanlan), a woman still grieving for her daughter who disappeared 18 years earlier, which is made all the harder by the fact that the man charged with her murder is up for parole.
Now, series two is taking us back to that very same town, but there’s an all-new cast and an all-new mystery to solve. Ahead of its return to our screens this June, here’s everything you need to know about The Light in the Hall: Still Waters, including the cast, plot and release date.
What is The Light in the Hall about?
The first series of The Light in the Hall, which aired in the UK in 2023, sees Joanna Scanlan star as grief-stricken mother Sharon, whose daughter Ela went missing, presumed murdered, 18 years ago. Not long after Ela's disappearance, Joe Thomas (Iwan Rheon), a humble gardener, was arrested and charged with her murder after Ela's DNA was found in his caravan.
Joe confessed to the murder but never explained why he did it, or what he did with the body. But now, he's being considered for parole and if he's released, Sharon's worst fear may be realised; she'll never get Ela's body back and the past will torment her the rest of her life.
There's also someone else interested in Ela's murder: journalist Cat Donato (Alexandra Roach) who is originally from the same town. She's kept an eye on the story and the news that Joe is due for parole and is likely to be released prompts her into action - but can Sharon and Cat uncover the truth?
What will happen in The Light in the Hall series 2?
The second series – titled Y Golau: Dŵr (The Light in the Hall: Still Waters) – will takes us back to the fictional village of Llanemlyn, West Wales. There, a controversial redevelopment plan to expand a nearby reservoir reignites old tensions – a story that piques the interest of young journalist Caryl (Siân Reese-Williams). As familial secrets and mysteries resurface, doubts are raised about the imprisonment of Rhys Owen (Mark Lewis-Jones) for the murder of his cousin Llŷr during the 1995 protests against the reservoir’s expansion.
Gwenllian Gravelle, S4C’s Head of Film and Drama, says: “After the runaway success of Y Golau Series 1, the world of Llanemlyn returns with a mystery darker, deeper, and more thrilling than ever with Y Golau: Dŵr. With a powerhouse cast and a story that grips from the first moment, this is one journey our S4C viewers won’t want to miss.”
Who’s in the cast of The Light in the Hall: Still Waters?
There cast of The Light in the Hall: Still Waters includes:
- Siân Reese-Williams as Caryl Huws
- Mark Lewis-Jones as Rhys Owen
- Nia Roberts as Eve Davies
- Robert Glenister as Robert Davies
- Tom Rhys Harries as Hari Breckon
- Maeve Courtier-Lilley as Mabli Davies Owen
- Wyn Bowen Harries as Bryn Owen
- Mali Tudno Jones as Megan Breckon
- Matthew Gravelle as Gareth Breckon
- Gillian Elisa as Eunice
How can I watch The Light in the Hall: Still Waters?
There’s not long to wait - The Light in the Hall: Still Waters will premiere on Channel 4 at 9pm on Tuesday 16th June. In the meantime, you can catch up on series 1 here.
What other crime dramas can I watch now?
If you haven't yet seen Netflix's Untamed, we'd highly recommend it. The series revolves around special agent Kyle Turner (played brilliantly by Eric Bana) who investigates a brutal murder in the wilderness that has deep, unsettling connections - not only to the national park he works in, but his own past, too. Untamed is available to watch now on Netflix. We'd also suggest checking out Under The Bridge, which s tells the startling true story of Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta), a 14-year-old girl whose innocent trip to a party in British Columbia, Canada, turned into something nightmares are made of. You can watch Under the Bridge now on Disney+.
