A new television drama being filmed in and around Swansea will put the city on screens across the UK — in the first ever drama co-production between S4C and ITV.
Santa Maria, a six-part dark comedy-drama, will premiere in Welsh on S4C in early 2027 before being broadcast in English on ITV later the same year.
The series follows two families from very different sides of the tracks, whose lives become slowly entangled through the actions of Maria — a saintly but strung-out cleaner.
It was created and written by multi-award-winning screenwriter Siwan Jones, whose previous work includes Con Passionate, Alys and 35 Diwrnod.
Directing is Erin Richards, whose credits include Y Golau/The Light in the Hall: Still Waters and the American series Gotham.
Producers have described Swansea as an integral part of the story, with filming taking place in and around the city — and Mumbles also set for a starring role.
Cameras have been quietly rolling for almost a month — the production’s first slate, released with the announcement, is dated 11 May and marks scene one, take one of the shoot.
The all-star cast is packed with familiar Welsh television faces, including Y Gwyll/Hinterland stars Siân Reese-Williams and Richard Harrington, Hannah Daniel of Cleddau/The One That Got Away, Leisa Gwenllian, and Oliver John.
They are joined by Matthew Gravelle, who starred in the Port Talbot-set Steeltown Murders, and Swansea-born Melanie Walters — best known as Gwen in Gavin & Stacey.
The series is being made by Welsh independent production company Triongl, with support from Creative Wales, equity funding from S4C’s commercial content fund, and international distribution handled by Sphere Abacus.
S4C’s Head of Film and Drama, Gwenllian Gravelle, who commissioned the series, said it would capture the contrasts of life in the city.
“Santa Maria explores the striking contrasts of life in Swansea, where two very different worlds exist side by side,” she said.
“Set against the city and Mumbles’ iconic blue skies, this deliciously dark comedy-drama captures Swansea in all its diversity; vibrant, complex and unmistakably real.”
Darren Nartey, Head of Content Acquisitions at ITV, said the broadcaster was “very proud to be bringing this fascinating, quintessentially Welsh story to our audiences across ITV”.
Triongl’s executive producers Nora Ostler Spiteri, Alexander Spiteri and Gethin Scourfield said they had assembled a cast and crew to make a show that was “warm, funny and vibrant — a far cry from our usual Welsh noir”.
The Welsh Government said Creative Wales’ investment had helped create jobs and training opportunities in the Welsh screen sector.
Plaid Cymru’s Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, said: “As a new government we’re committed to strengthening the Welsh creative sectors. We welcome the fact Creative Wales’ investment in this production has helped create jobs for our talented workforce, valuable experience for trainees, and is expected to deliver around £5.7m in economic return for Wales.”
