BBC Radio 4 Limelight, November 19, 2021 and on BBC Sounds

The hooded figure has unexpected links…

The penultimate episode of this first season of Lucy Catherine’s supernatural thriller ramps up the stakes considerably, as we start to realise – if not understand – some of the connections between the characters (and among those, I include Harland – or Hareland – itself). Every time DI Sarah Ward thinks she’s moving forward and getting to the bottom of things, she’s thwarted, and people seem to be behaving increasingly oddly – a prank turns out to be nothing of the sort, and we realise there’s a good reason why the cameras in the church have been non operational… And can she really trust her new lover, Dr Jim?

The sense of dread that’s permeated Sarah’s dreams right from the start of the series begins to spill over into real life, and Ayesha Antoine conveys Sarah’s sense of foreboding and fear well. Dan is horrified by discoveries with Tyger Drew-Honey’s performance equally convincing.

There’s a great deal of ground that needs covering in the final half hour for this to wrap up the first season – I’m intrigued to see what will come out.

Verdict: The answers aren’t necessarily what we expect as Harland starts to reveal its secrets. 8/10

Paul Simpson