Megwyn Jones – the most evil woman in Britain. Who’s dying having kept secrets for the past few decades. Can Owen or Andy get the answers so many families desperately seek?

About three-four years ago, I wrote a book on serial killers, going back in many cases to footage or transcripts of police interviews, court reports and other first-hand testimonies. It was a relief to be away from it finally – I don’t ever want to have to think about Fred and Rose West again if possible – but hearing James Goss’ excellent script for The Hope brought to life, principally by Burn Gorman, Tom Price and Dame Sian Phillips, made memories flood back. In many ways, this is the adult version of Doctor Who that I always hoped that Torchwood would be (and which, to be fair, it has been on many occasions in its audio form): one that deals with other adult themes than the purely sexual, one that investigates the human condition by coming at it from a genre perspective.

If it weren’t for the presence of Owen and Andy, you’d be excused for thinking this was a non-genre piece for the first 25 minutes or so, and it’s very powerful in its depiction both of Megwyn Jones, and the effect her supposed crimes have had on her and on the families of the victims. Once we learn the reason for Torchwood being there, things take something of a different turn, and you realise that the placement of this story in the timeline is very particular – and not a tale that could have been recorded say four or five years ago.

Richard Fox’s sound design is an integral part of the storytelling – there’s one particular moment between Andy and his superior that was almost stomach-churning yet I’m sure that the component parts of the sounds used were totally innocuous – and director Scott Handcock and Fox use an absolutely normal part of daily life to incredibly good effect. Blair Mowat’s score puts Owen’s theme to good use as well.

Verdict: Adult, affecting and incredibly powerful with strong performances, direction and design – one of the range’s best single stories. 10/10

Paul Simpson

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