Under Salt Marsh’s Jonathan Pryce explains why thriller is “much deeper” than your average murder mystery

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The discovery of nine-year-old Cefin’s body in a ditch near the small Welsh town of Morfa Halen devastates the community. People fear his death wasn’t an accident, and they suspect someone local may be responsible.

This situation is sadly familiar, as another child, Nessa, disappeared three years ago, and the circumstances surrounding her case are still a mystery.

Although Sky Atlantic’s Under Salt Marsh centers around a murder, Jonathan Pryce – known for roles in The Two Popes and The Crown – who plays the family patriarch Solomon, thinks the show offers more than a typical crime thriller.

Pryce explained that the murders have stirred up old wounds and existing divisions within the community, creating a lot of ongoing tension. It’s more than just a simple whodunit; it’s a complex situation rooted in the community’s history.

Pryce also points out that figuring out who the murderer is isn’t simple or obvious.

I really liked how the script kept you guessing for a long time – there weren’t any clear suspects, which I found engaging.

Kelly Reilly, known from Yellowstone, joins Pryce and Spall as Jackie Ellis, a former detective now teaching. She discovers Cefin’s body and is also Nessa’s aunt. This case leads to her losing both her job and her close friendship with Bull.

Reilly explained that the two characters share a significant and painful past. He believes Jackie specifically wants to avoid this person, as seeing them is simply too difficult and she isn’t prepared to deal with the emotional fallout.

Seeing him right now is likely incredibly difficult for her, as it reminds her of all the painful experiences related to the unsolved case they worked on together, she explained.

When he unexpectedly appeared at her door after discovering the child’s body, it felt like something out of a horror movie.

Spall found that detail particularly appealing, and characterized the initial connection between the characters – or the absence of one – as unusual.

“There isn’t that risk of them getting together, but they’ve got a lot to work out,” he expanded.

This couple shares a powerful connection, filled with both intense love and frustration. It’s a complex dynamic that makes them a uniquely compelling pair.

The first two episodes of Under Salt Marsh will debut on Sky Atlantic and NOW on January 30th, and then a new episode will air each Friday for the following four weeks.

Don’t forget to add ‘Add Under Salt Marsh’ to your watchlist on the TopMob app! Download TopMob now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor at TopMob, where she writes about TV dramas and comedies. Before that, she was a TV writer for Digital Spy and a content writer for Mumsnet. She has a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.

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2026-01-30 14:34