Actor Iwan Rheon has stated that the new BBC psychological thriller aol.com resonates with the modern world as global temperatures rise. Speaking to Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales, the Game of Thrones star noted that the series, which is set during a heatwave, really hits home
because the world is currently heating up.
Iwan Rheon Links BBC Thriller ‘The Rapture’ to Global Warming
Plot and Casting of The Rapture
The drama follows the interactions between forensic psychologist Dr Gabriele Fox, played by Ruth Madeley, and 17-year-old Bethany Krall, played by India Amarteifio. The plot centers on Bethany, who has been convicted of murdering her mother but maintains her innocence and claims to possess psychic powers that allow her to predict the future.
The series features a cast that includes Ruth Jones, the co-creator of Gavin and Stacey, who portrays a character named Mel in the “gritty drama.” The production was created for BBC One and BBC iPlayer by Mammoth Screen, a subsidiary of ITV Studios, with additional support provided by the Welsh government through Creative Wales. All episodes are currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Rheon’s Return to Wales
For Rheon, who grew up in Cardiff, The Rapture is one of three new productions he has filmed in Wales. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work in his home country, noting that it allows him to see his family. Rheon also praised the Welsh creative industry, stating it now possesses fantastic crews
and great infrastructure,
and credited the region’s “innate” ability to produce great actors.
In addition to The Rapture, Rheon is involved in two other upcoming film projects in Wales:
- Out There: A British sci-fi comedy filmed in Ceredigion. Starring Rheon and Michael Sheen, the story follows a teenage girl in a small seaside town in 1999 who believes her father was abducted by aliens.
- The Mountain: A film being shot on Anglesey, directed by Celyn Jones. The story focuses on a neglected boy in 1980s Wales seeking community and friendship after meeting someone living in isolation. The cast includes Rebecca Lucy Taylor and Scottish actor Peter Mullan.
Context of Extreme Heat in Europe
While The Rapture uses a heatwave as a narrative device, real-world extreme heat has caused significant disruption in Europe. According to a report from Reuters, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on July 7, 2026, that Europe could face more deadly weeks
due to an intense heatwave forming over the Atlantic.
WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge reported that the heatwave occurring from June 20-28 was the most severe recorded in Europe, overwhelming healthcare systems and damaging infrastructure. This event resulted in 3,700 preliminary excess deaths across Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Scientists stated the extreme heat was almost certainly driven by climate change.
Kluge noted that while countries with heat-health action plans responded more effectively, less than half of the WHO’s European member states had such plans in place. He specifically highlighted that homeless individuals, care home residents, and socially isolated older adults were not being reached consistently.
