BBC drama The Guest branded 'the most unhinged show' but viewers left divided

Viewers have been left divided after watching The Guest. The new BBC drama aired on Monday and is the latest offering of writer Matthew Barry and director Ashley Way, both of whom were behind the 2023 hit Men Up, which boasted Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page amongst its cast.

The new thriller stars Gabrielle Creevy as a cleaner who develops a toxic relationship with her strange employer, played by Eve Myles. It comprises four episodes in total and has come througn Quay Street Productions, the same production company behind Michelle Keegan's Netflix hit Fool Me Once and The Blame, which will also feature the former Coronation Street star in the leading role.

But as the drama hit screens at the start of the new week, fans weren't entirely sure what to make of it all, but one fan was full of praise after sitting down to tune in. TV critic Scott Bryan said: "The Guest on BBC One is the most unhinged show this side of Christmas. Completely loved it. Great characters and funny one-liners."

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Another wrote: "Oh. My. GOD! #TheGuest is fun, twisty, flirty, thrilling! Eve Myles & Gabrielle Creevy are perfect in this. So well written and beautifully directed. And filmed in Wales! Loved, loved it, loved it," and another said: "Just watched " The Guest " on BBC I player starring Eve Myles . A good thriller. Worth watching."

One fan was left 'terrified' by the whole thing as they admitted: "Omg there is a drama on bbc1 this eve at 9 called #TheGuest it’s rather gripping but terrifying all at the same time and I wan to continue watching it but it’s a bit too dramatic, oh and halfway through there was a spider crawling up my wall." Another concurred as they said: "So many jump scares on #TheGuest - I'm a nervous wreck"

Another viewer was completely shocked by the way the first episode had wrapped up as they took to social media to exclaim: "Bloody hell, that ending to the first episode of The Guest was NOT how I expected it to go!"

Some viewers were less than enthusiastic with their reviews, as one said: "What utter tosh passes for drama on the bbc! Wasted an hour on The Guest -am dram at best," and another said: "what a mess of a storyline. Utter garbage ending. Can't believe I wasted 4 hours of my life watching that!"

Prior to the series launch, Reach Plc chatted to Eve and Gabrielle about their roles in the programme and why they think audiences are drawn to intense female bonds.

Eve, 47, remarked: "Because it's complex, it's not easy, it's not actually an easy thing to talk about or to try and describe or explain, it's about something very, very intoxicating. It's about two women sharing something very important.

"Like myself and Gabby, Fran and Ria are also incredibly vulnerable, never mind the strengths you see from both of them, they both have great strengths, but they both have great weaknesses."

Eve detailed the unlikely bond between Fran and Ria, explaining that their contrasting backgrounds add a layer of intrigue and mystery for some.

She further elaborated: "It's not about a boss and a cleaner it's about two women who share this part of their lives together, they share secrets together, they go through something very traumatic together then they've got to fix that, or not and what that does to them."

Matthew Barry, the writer of The Guest, expressed his excitement about the project: "I'm beyond excited to be re-teaming with Nicola, Davina and the whole team at Quay Street Productions and the BBC to bring The Guest to life.

"As well as being an exciting thriller, at its core this is an examination of class, social mobility and the growing disparity between those at the top and bottom of our society."

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