What do you get when you combine a Shetland-style mystery with one of Broadchurch’s best characters? A beyond brilliant crime drama in the form of The Pact. The series, which stars Julie Hesmondhalgh as one of four brewery coworkers and friends who find themselves bound by a terrible secret, is, if you ask us, one of the BBC’s most compelling crime dramas - and the good news is you can binge it tonight.
The Welsh series was such a hit when it first aired in 2021 – thanks to an ingenious plot that saw the four women attempt to cover up their apparent involvement in the death of their boss – that a second series arrived only a year later. And with a fresh story and another dark secret at the heart of it, it proved just as brilliantly addictive as the first.
With both series available to stream on the BBC tonight, here’s everything you need to know about the crime drama before you tune in, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is The Pact about?
The Welsh crime drama, which first aired on BBC One in 2021, takes us to a local brewery in mid-Wales where a young brewery boss, Jack (Aneurin Barnard), is found dead. Jack is a complex character, a cocaine addict who treats his staff with contempt and when his body is found in the woods, four of his employees find themselves caught up in the tragedy.
You see, Anna (Laura Fraser), Nancy (Julie Hesmondhalgh), Louie (Eiry Thomas) and Cat (Heledd Gwynn) were with Jack in the woods before he died and decide to enter a pact of silence, bound by a secret that will change their lives forever. But the question is, what really happened that fateful night? And will Anna's police officer husband, Max (Jason Hughes), get to the bottom of it?
In 2022, a second series brought us a new story, but one that once again involved a secret pact. At the centre of it is Christine Rees (Rakie Ayola) and her adult children - Megan (Mali Ann Rees), Will (Lloyd Everitt) and Jamie (Aaron Anthony) - whose lives are changed forever when they’re contacted by a young man, Connor (Jordan Wilks), claiming to be a fifth sibling. As Christine realises her hold over her precious, dysfunctional family is under threat, she seeks to keep Connor at bay – but we soon learn that there’s far more to the story than meets the eye.
Explaining what makes The Pact such compelling viewing, star Julie Hesmondhalgh told the BBC: “Ooh it's got it all! It's a thriller, first and foremost. A twisty-turny thriller that keeps you guessing to the very end. But it's also a story about friendship, family, marriage, love and betrayal.”
Elwen Rowlands from production company Little Door Productions added: “The Pact explores how ordinary people deal with extraordinary circumstances. How we behave towards our friends and family when we find ourselves under huge pressure. How we cope with huge moral dilemmas. Although The Pact takes us to some dark places and shows the best and worst of human behaviour, overall, I think it’s a show with a lot of compassion and kindness.”
Who’s in the cast of The Pact?
The main cast of The Pact includes:
- Laura Fraser (The Loch) as Anna
- Julie Hesmondhalgh (Broadchurch) as Nancy
- Rakie Ayola (Noughts + Crosses) as DS Holland (Christine in series 2)
- Jason Hughes (Three Girls) as Max
- Heledd Gwynn (The Guest) as Cat
- Eiry Thomas (Keeping Faith) as Louie
- Abby Hern (Ted Lasso) as Tish
- Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes) as Arwel
- Aneurin Barnard (Citadel) as Jack
- Aled ap Steffan (The Left Behind) as Ryan
- Gabrielle Creevy (The Guest) as Tamsin
- Sophie Melville (The Left Behind) as Mandy
- Jordan Wilks (EastEnders) as Connor (series 2)
- Mali Ann Rees (The One That Got Away)as Megan Rees (series 2)
- Lloyd Everitt (The Deceived) as Will Rees (series 2)
- Aaron Anthony (Delicious) as Jamie Rees (series 2)
- Lisa Palfrey (The Feast) as Beth (series 2)
- Jacob Ifan (Cuffs) as Gethin (series 2)
- Rebekah Murrell (One Day) as Samantha (series 2)
- Kristy Phillips (Vera) as Kayla (series 2)
- Christian Patterson (Mr Selfridge) as Joe (series 2)
Is The Pact any good?
Yes – if you ask us, it’s one of the BBC’s most compelling crime dramas. Watching the four women at the centre of it try and extricate themselves from Jack’s death is as anxiety inducing as it is deeply engaging. While their predicament might be considered a little far-fetched, there’s something strangely relatable about each of the characters – flaws and all – and you can’t help but wonder what you’d do if you were in their shoes.
How can I watch The Pact?
You can watch both series of The Pact now on BBC iPlayer.
What other crime dramas can I watch now?
If you’re a Stephen Graham fan, we’d highly recommend Save Me. The series introduces us to Nelson “Nelly” Rowe (played by Lennie himself) who finds himself accused of abducting his estranged 13-year-old daughter, Jody (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness). Over the course of the series, we meet several others connected to the pair, including Nelly’s loyal best friend (Stephen Graham), a convicted sex offender who wants to put the past behind him. You can watch Save Me now on Sky and NOW. For an equally brilliant performance from Unforgotten star Nicola Walker, we’d suggest Inside Men. The BBC drama, which first aired more than a decade ago, tells the story of a heist planned by three ordinary security depot workers - with a little help from their partners. Inside Men is available to watch now on Prime Video.
