Bang (TV series)
| Bang | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Crime drama |
| Created by | Roger Williams |
| Directed by |
Philip John Ashley Way |
| Starring |
Jacob Ifan Catrin Stewart Gareth Jewell Jack Parry Jones Suzanne Packer Chris Reilly Nia Roberts Sara Gregory |
| Theme music composer | Greg Fleming |
| Country of origin | Wales |
| Original language(s) | Welsh, English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Roger Williams Patrick Irwin Gub Neal |
| Producer(s) | Catrin Lewis Defis |
| Production location(s) | Port Talbot |
| Cinematography | Mark Milsome |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | S4C |
| Picture format | 16:9 1080i |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 10 September 2017 – present |
Bang is a bilingual crime drama television series, created by Roger Williams, that was first broadcast on S4C on 10 September 2017. The series, set in Port Talbot, Wales, stars Jacob Ifan as Sam Jenkins, a loner who becomes entangled in a web of lies after coming into possession of a gun. The eight-part series, which is filmed entirely on location, is the first in a season of bilingual dramas set to premiere back to back on S4C.[1]
Initial broadcasts carry entirely English subtitles (although these need to be accessed by the viewer, and do not appear on screen), while repeat airings carry encoded English subtitles for scenes spoken in Welsh. The series has concurrently been available on the BBC iPlayer as part of the BBC's ongoing relationship with S4C.[2]
Production
Series creator Roger Williams said of the bilingual nature of the script; "It was very much about story; a strong story that would get people tuning in every week to see what would happen. Then the conversation about language started to happen. Port Talbot isn’t the strongest place for the Welsh language. There are quite a small percentage of speakers compared with Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Gwynedd. From that stumbling block I started to think: ‘Why don’t we reflect the linguistic diversity of a place like Port Talbot?’ For all of us who are bilingual, the reality is that we live our lives through two languages."[3]
Cast
- Jacob Ifan as Sam Jenkins; a loner who works for a local distribution firm
- Catrin Stewart as PC Gina Jenkins; Sam's sister
- Gareth Jewell as DCI Carl Roberts; head of CID and Gina's love interest
- Jack Parry Jones as PC Luke Lloyd; Gina's long-term work partner
- Suzanne Packer as Chief Inspector Layla Davies; head of police
- Chris Reilly as Ray Murray; Sam's stepfather who owns a local builder's yard
- Nia Roberts as Linda Murray; Sam's mother
- Sara Gregory as Patricia Rose; wife of murder victim Stevie Rose
Episodes
| Episode | Title | Written by | Directed by | Viewers (millions)[4] |
Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Philip John | Roger Williams | 49,000 | 10 September 2017 |
| Whilst investigating the theft of a fruit machine from a local pool hall, PCs Gina Jenkins and Luke Lloyd discover the body of local businessman Stevie Rose floating in the local marina. When a murder investigation is launched, Gina sees it as an opportunity to work her way up into CID. But despite bedding DCI Carl Roberts, Gina finds her progress being impeded by Chief Inspector Layla Davies. Meanwhile, Gina's brother Sam is finding life difficult working all hours god sends and trying to look after his Nan, whose health is rapidly failing. Returning from work one afternoon, Sam is confronted by a new neighbour, Rhys, who precedes to steal his bike. When Sam tries to retrieve it, he receives an unexpected proposal from Rhys' girlfriend Mel. | |||||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Philip John | Roger Williams | 45,000 | 17 September 2017 |
| Carl begins to interrogate Stevie's family and friends in a bid to shed some light on his murder. Gina follows up on the reports of gunshots on Sam's estate and begins to suspect Rhys and Mel's involvement, unaware that Sam is struggling under the pressure of keeping his secret to himself. A loanshark with connections to Stevie is badly beaten by a gang of thugs. Layla is surprised when Patricia unexpectedly offers a reward for information relating to her husband's murder. Sam is devastated when his Nan's failing health finally gets the better of her. | |||||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Ashley Way | Roger Williams | 46,000 | 24 September 2017 |
| Gina finally makes to make her way onto the investigation team, but the discovery of a second body poses the team more questions than answers. When Sam's employers get wind that someone has been stealing from the warehouse, a thorough search is conducted, and Sam fears he is to be found out - but when co-worker Cai is found to have a stolen child's toy in his locker, he is assumed to be the thief and is fired on the spot. Cai pressures Sam into compensating him for losing his job, and the pair decide to rob one of the company's vans full of expensive electrical equipment. | |||||
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Ashley Way | Roger Williams | 39,000 | 1 October 2017 |
| Tired of Ray's constant niggling, Sam decides to get revenge by staging a second robbery, this time on his builder's yard. However, Sam's plans go disastrously wrong when Cai pulls the gun on a security guard who catches them in the act. Realising that the police are closing in, Cai decides to leave town, but not before trying to reclaim his half of the money from the van robbery. Gina is angry when she is sent home from work by Layla, and is surprised to be approached by Patricia, who tries to offer her money in return for undisclosed information on the case. | |||||
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Philip John | Roger Williams | 36,000 | 8 October 2017 |
| Gina comes across information that casts fresh light on her father's death and the discovery leads to an honest conversation with Linda about the past. Sam meets a woman called Ela who turns his life upside down. | |||||
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Philip John | Roger Williams | 33,000 | 15 October 2017 |
| While staying at a hotel Sam and Ela take advantage of another guest with heartbreaking consequences for Sam. Gina searches for more information about her father's death. | |||||
| 7 | "Episode 7" | Philip John | Roger Williams | 36,000 | 22 October 2017 |
| Gina starts to suspect Sam and the truth comes out about the gun. Gina is forced to make a difficult decision and a meeting with Douglas Rose floors h | |||||
| 8 | "Episode 8" | Philip John | Roger Williams | 40,000 | 29 October 2017 |
| Gina is horrified to learn Sam is in danger. The truth about Stevie Rose's murder is revealed. Gina discovers something in Ray and Linda's house that leads Sam to remember what exactly happened to his father. | |||||
References
- ↑ "S4C Press release". www.s4c.wales.
- ↑ "Bang - BBC - S4C". BBC.
- ↑ Morris, Steven (10 September 2017). "Welsh-English bilingual drama seeks to replicate success of Scandi noir" – via www.theguardian.com.
- ↑ "Weekly top 30 programmes - BARB". www.barb.co.uk.