BBC launches The Rapture thriller amid record UK heatwave
The BBC’s five‑part psychological thriller The Rapture premiered on BBC One and iPlayer on 26 July 2026. Adapted from Liz Jensen’s 2009 novel, the series is set during a heatwave in South Wales and follows forensic psychologist Dr Gabs Fox (Ruth Madeley) as she treats 17‑year‑old inmate Bethany Krall (India Amarteifio), convicted of murdering her mother but claiming she can foresee disasters. The plot weaves climate‑change anxiety, a cult‑like religious movement led by Bethany’s father Leonard, a fossil‑fuel company’s wind‑farm plans, and an activist group called the Climate Front.
The production was handled by Mammoth Screen (part of ITV Studios) with Creative Wales support, and was filmed on location across South Wales – including Port Talbot, Margam Park and Dragon Studios in Bridgend. The cast also features Ruth Jones, Stephen Campbell Moore, Siena Kelly and Iwan Rheon among others.
Viewers have praised the series, describing it as “absolutely brilliant” and “gripping”, while critics note its mix of thriller suspense with a “deeply silly” take on climate anxiety.
Entities: BBC · India Amarteifio · Iwan Rheon · Liz Jensen · Ruth Madeley · South Wales · The Rapture · The Rapture (TV series) · Wales
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The series was filmed on location across South Wales, including Port Talbot, Margam Park and Dragon Studios. (67bf6b86-13e4-470e-8cfb-cc98947fb658, bc0c343e-62a9-423b-a5af-fcc33eaa6355)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The series is adapted from Liz Jensen's novel 'The Rapture'. (a84f2197-e475-42b9-b4c9-3f9d6283aa8a, 67bf6b86-13e4-470e-8cfb-cc98947fb658, bc0c343e-62a9-423b-a5af-fcc33eaa6355)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ruth Madeley plays forensic psychologist Dr Gabs Fox. (a84f2197-e475-42b9-b4c9-3f9d6283aa8a, 67bf6b86-13e4-470e-8cfb-cc98947fb658, bc0c343e-62a9-423b-a5af-fcc33eaa6355, 17943c)
- [● 3 SOURCES] India Amarteifio plays Bethany Krall, a 17‑year‑old convicted of murdering her mother. (a84f2197-e475-42b9-b4c9-3f9d6283aa8a, 67bf6b86-13e4-470e-8cfb-cc98947fb658, bc0c343e-62a9-423b-a5af-fcc33eaa6355)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Rapture premiered on BBC One and iPlayer on 26 July 2026. (a84f2197-e475-42b9-b4c9-3f9d6283aa8a, 67bf6b86-13e4-470e-8cfb-cc98947fb658, bc0c343e-62a9-423b-a5af-fcc33eaa6355)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The series explores climate‑change anxiety and portrays a cult‑like religious movement. (114231bc-d5fd-4787-8724-843d7546d9db, 17943dc9-794d-4b91-90c8-0836647086c3)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, produced the series with support from Creative Wales. (8889e36b-07f1-489c-9f8c-7ef7159fbe26, 7373ca36-410f-4a03-92ff-604167177c12)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Viewers described the series as 'absolutely brilliant' and 'gripping'. (a84f2197-e475-42b9-b4c9-3f9d6283aa8a, bc0c343e-62a9-423b-a5af-fcc33eaa6355)