Wales takes the spotlight in Sky’s new thriller Prisoner

With the release of its latest action thriller series Prisoner, Sky has continued to invest in Wales as a TV production hub.

Set against the backdrop of the dramatic Welsh countryside, the six‑part series follows prison transport officer Amber Todd (Izuka Hoyle) as she attempts to escort high‑value inmate Tibor Stone (Tahar Rahim) to court, after their convoy is ambushed by a powerful crime syndicate.

A total of 85 days were filmed in Wales across the 17-week shoot, with BBC’s Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff serving as the production base. Filming locations included Swansea, Port Talbot, Cwmbran and Newport, alongside striking landmarks such as the new Severn Bridge. The range of locations showcased the rugged Welsh terrain, which is woven into the series’ drama and plot.

Over 120 local crew members worked on the production, with 20 trainees also getting first-hand experience of filming a high-end drama. During filming, Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens MP, visited the set and met some of the Welsh trainees.

Following her visit, Stevens said: “I’m proud of our booming creative industries here in Wales and Sky’s new thriller is another great example of the wealth of talent and fantastic locations on offer to production companies from across the world.”

“The UK Government is committed to growing the Welsh economy and creating new jobs in every part of Wales. That is why we have set up ‘Brand Wales’, a new initiative designed to attract inward investment and promote Wales as a brilliant place to do business.”

Prisoner is the second Sky Original of 2026 to have been filmed on Welsh soil, following the success of the six-part crime drama Under Salt Marsh, a production that employed many crew members across North and South Wales. Set in the fictional coastal town of Morfa Halen, Under Salt Marsh (created and directed by Claire Oakley and produced by Little Door Productions, based in Wales) was largely shot across north-west Wales, including Barmouth and Fairbourne, with shots across the dramatic coastline and expansive salt marsh landscapes that play a central role in the crime drama.

Both productions were supported by Creative Wales, underlining Sky’s commitment to filming across the UK and supporting regional production.

Prisoner is produced by Binocular in association with Sky Studios. The series is written and created by showrunner Matt Charman. Haleema Mizra is the deputy showrunner and writer. The series is directed by Otto Bathurst, with later episodes directed by Pia Strietmann. Executive producers are Matt Charman, Foz Allan, Otto Bathurst, and Adrian Sturges for Sky Studios. Barney Reisz serves as series producer. The series is available on Sky in the UK and Ireland, with NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution handling international sales. The production received support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.

Under Salt Marsh is created by Claire Oakley. The series is written by Claire Oakley, Jonathan Harbottle (Episodes 3 & 5) and Nikita Lalwani (Episode 4). The lead director is Claire Oakley, with Mary Nighy directing Episodes 3 and 4. Under Salt Marsh is produced by Little Door Productions in association with Sky Studios. Both productions were supported by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales. The producers are Scott Bassett and Emma Duffy. Executive Producers are Elwen Rowlands for Little Door Productions, Claire Oakley, Kelly Reilly, and Megan Spanjian for Sky.