A new legal crime drama is coming to U&Alibi this August, as the channel unveils ‘Mudtown‘, a gritty six-part series exploring the blurred lines between justice, loyalty, and survival in a struggling Welsh community.
Created by Hannah Daniel and Georgia Lee (herself a magistrate), ‘Mudtown’ follows Claire Lewis Jones, a Newport magistrate, mother, and wife whose past threatens to collide with her present when an old flame resurfaces and a family friend is caught up in a life-altering case.
The series stars Erin Richards (Gotham) as Claire, joined by Tom Cullen (The Gold) as menacing local kingpin Saint Pete, Matthew Gravelle (Broadchurch) as Claire’s dependable husband Alun, Kimberley Nixon (The Salisbury Poisonings), Lauren Morais (The Red King), and Lloyd Meredith (The Red King).
A story of justice, family, and buried secrets
Set in Newport, the drama centres on Claire as she presides over cases in the magistrates’ court, striving to serve her community while battling her own demons. Her loyalties are tested when Ned Humphries, a childhood friend of her daughter Beca (Morais), is charged with arson, and her world is further shaken by the return of Saint Pete — a former lover turned criminal kingpin.
Erin Richards describes Claire as “fiercely loyal, funny, and dogged,” adding that the character is driven by a need to “make amends for a terrible thing she did when she was younger.” Writer Georgia Lee calls her “endlessly capable and brilliant, yet trapped by circumstances,” while co-creator Hannah Daniel says the series explores “the parental anxieties of raising children in a complicated world.”
A layered and complex cast
Tom Cullen brings depth to Saint Pete, describing him as “a super-smart guy who takes advantage of his surroundings” but also “the love of Claire’s life.” Their shared history adds a powerful emotional undercurrent to the drama, as Claire’s sense of justice collides with unresolved feelings.
The show also introduces Claire’s husband Alun, played by Gravelle, who provides a safe, steady presence in her chaotic world — but with secrets of his own. Meanwhile, Beca’s rebellious streak and dangerous relationship with Sonny Higgins (Lloyd Meredith) create further tensions, as Claire fights to keep her family from being drawn into Newport’s criminal underworld.
Authentic Welsh storytelling
Filmed in Newport, ‘Mudtown’ captures both the city’s beauty and its struggles. “It’s a post-industrial South Walian town with resilience, humour, and grit,” explains Daniel. Richards adds that working back home in Wales after years in the US was “the best time I’ve ever had filming a series.”
‘Mudtown‘ Season 1 premieres Wednesday, 20th August 2025 at 9pm on U&Alibi and will also be available to stream on Sky, Virgin Media, and NOW.
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