The critically acclaimed Welsh crime drama “Y Golau” returns for its gripping second season, premiering on S4C on September 15, 2025. The season continues the haunting story set in the small, close-knit town of Llanemlyn, where the past refuses to stay buried. The plot follows investigative journalist Cat Donato as she returns to her hometown, determined to finally uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of Ela Roberts eighteen years prior. However, her quest for answers forces the community to confront old wounds and hidden secrets, making it clear that not everyone is happy to see the past dug up, and some will go to great lengths to keep it hidden.

Reprising their roles is the show’s stellar ensemble cast, led by the formidable Alexandra Roach as the tenacious Cat. She is joined by Iwan Rheon, Joanna Scanlan, and Annes Elwy, who bring depth and complexity to the residents of Llanemlyn, each of whom holds a piece of the puzzle. With new clues emerging and old suspicions flaring, the second season promises to delve deeper into the darkness at the heart of the town, exposing the lies and loyalties that have shaped its inhabitants for nearly two decades.

Y Golau Season 2 Official cast details

1- Alexandra Roach as Cat Donato

Alexandra Roach returns to anchor the series in the role of Cat Donato, the determined journalist whose personal connection to the case fuels her relentless pursuit of the truth. Roach, acclaimed for her performances in The Iron Lady, Utopia, and No Offence, brings a powerful blend of intelligence, vulnerability, and resolve to the character. Her portrayal captures Cat’s internal conflict as she is torn between her professional drive to expose the story and the emotional toll of reopening a painful chapter in her own life and for the entire community.

Roach’s performance is the audience’s guide through the murky past of Llanemlyn. She embodies the voice of reason and curiosity that challenges the town’s silent complicity. As Cat pieces together fragments of memory and evidence, Roach masterfully conveys her growing obsession and the personal risks she is willing to take, making her a compelling and empathetic protagonist whose journey is as emotional as it is investigative.

2- Iwan Rheon as Joe

Iwan Rheon reprises his role as Joe, a character whose life has been profoundly shaped by the events of eighteen years ago. Rheon, internationally renowned for his chilling portrayal of Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones and for his roles in Misfits and Residue, is a master of portraying complex, often troubled characters. His performance as Joe is expected to be a nuanced exploration of a man haunted by the past, potentially holding secrets that he is desperate to keep buried.

Rheon excels at conveying deep emotion and conflict with subtlety, making Joe a character of intense intrigue. His presence in the series suggests a deep connection to Ela’s disappearance, and his interactions with Cat will be charged with history, guilt, and possibly fear. Rheon’s ability to swing between vulnerability and intensity makes Joe a central, enigmatic figure in the unfolding mystery.

3- Joanna Scanlan as Sharon

The BAFTA-winning actress Joanna Scanlan returns as Sharon, a pivotal figure within the community of Llanemlyn. Scanlan, celebrated for her work in The Thick of It, Getting On, and her BAFTA-winning role in After Love, brings immense depth and authenticity to every character she plays. As Sharon, she likely portrays a woman who is a cornerstone of the town, perhaps a business owner, a matriarch, or a long-time resident who holds significant influence and knowledge about the town’s history and its people.

Scanlan’s performance will undoubtedly add layers of moral complexity to the narrative. Sharon could be a source of support for Cat or a formidable obstacle, representing the town’s collective desire to protect itself. Her character embodies the theme of the season: that sometimes, those who seem the most helpful and integrated are the ones guarding the darkest secrets, and Scanlan is the perfect actress to navigate that duality.

4- Annes Elwy as Greta

Annes Elwy reprises her role as Greta, a character whose life is intimately connected to the central mystery. Elwy, a talented actress known for her roles in Keeping Faith, Amla, and The Prince, brings a compelling presence and emotional resonance to the screen. Greta is likely a contemporary of the missing Ela, someone whose own adolescence was shadowed by the tragedy and who has carried the weight of it into her adulthood.

Elwy’s portrayal will explore the long-term impact of trauma on a person and a community. Greta may hold key memories that have been suppressed or altered by time and grief. Her interactions with Cat could unlock crucial pieces of the puzzle, and Elwy’s ability to portray guarded vulnerability will make Greta a crucial and sympathetic link to the past that Cat is so desperate to uncover.

5- Dylan Jones as Young Joe

Dylan Jones returns to portray the younger version of Iwan Rheon’s character, Joe, in the flashback sequences that are vital to unraveling the mystery. Jones’s performance in the first season was crucial in establishing the emotional groundwork of the story. His task is to create a seamless bridge to the older Joe, showing the events that transformed a young man into the haunted individual he is in the present day.

Jones’s scenes will provide the context for the central relationships and tensions that led to Ela’s disappearance. His performance captures the innocence, relationships, and pivotal moments of that time, making the past feel immediate and urgent. Through his portrayal, the audience understands what was lost and why the events of eighteen years ago continue to cast such a long and dark shadow over the town.

6- Ella Peel as Ela Roberts

Ella Peel returns as Ela Roberts, the girl whose disappearance is the catalyst for the entire series. Though her screen time may be primarily through flashbacks, her character is the ghost that haunts every frame of the show. Peel’s performance is essential in making Ela a fully realized person, not just a plot device; she must embody the vitality, dreams, and relationships of a young woman on the cusp of her life, making her loss deeply felt by the audience.

Peel’s portrayal gives the mystery its emotional weight. Through her, we see the connections she had with Joe, Greta, and the other young residents of Llanemlyn. Her character is the sun around which the past orbits, and understanding who she was is key to understanding why she vanished. Peel makes Ela memorable and real, ensuring that the quest to find her is about more than just solving a crime—it’s about bringing a person back into the light.

7- Morgan Hopkins as Dai

Morgan Hopkins returns as Dai, another resident of Llanemlyn whose life was touched by the events of the past. Hopkins, a seasoned actor in Welsh film and television, brings a grounded, everyman quality to his roles. Dai could be a childhood friend, a former rival, or a local who was peripherally involved but has been deeply affected by the unsolved mystery for nearly two decades.

Hopkins’s performance adds to the rich tapestry of the community. Dai represents the average person caught up in an extraordinary circumstance, showing how a single event can ripple through a small town for generations. His character may provide crucial offhand information or a unique perspective that helps Cat see the case in a new light, or he may be hiding his own guilt or knowledge out of fear or loyalty.

8- Catherine Ayers as Sali

Catherine Ayers returns to the role of Sali, a character embedded in the social fabric of Llanemlyn. Ayers, a respected actress with a long history in Welsh drama, brings authority and authenticity to the cast. Sali is likely a figure of some standing in the community—perhaps a council member, a local organizer, or someone who has taken it upon herself to be the keeper of the town’s narrative.

Ayers’s portrayal will explore how official or semi-official channels can be used to control a story. Sali might represent the organized effort to quiet the past, acting as a voice of caution or even opposition to Cat’s investigation. Her character highlights the institutional and social barriers that often prevent the truth from coming out in small, tightly-knit communities.

9- Aneirin Hughes as Gafyn

The esteemed actor Aneirin Hughes returns as Gafyn. Hughes, a veteran of stage and screen in Wales known for Hinterland and Keeping Faith, brings a commanding presence and deep gravitas to any role. As Gafyn, he likely portrays an elder statesman of the town, someone who was in a position of authority eighteen years ago and may have been involved in the original investigation—or the cover-up.

Hughes’s performance suggests a character with significant secrets. Gafyn could hold the key to understanding the failures of the past investigation. His interactions with Cat will be charged with the weight of history and the tension between duty and corruption, making him a potentially formidable adversary in her quest for the truth.

10- Ioan Hefin as DCI Parry

Ioan Hefin joins the cast as DCI Parry, likely a senior detective who becomes involved in the case as new evidence comes to light. His character introduces the official police response to Cat’s investigation, creating a dynamic between professional procedure and amateur sleuthing. Parry could be an ally who provides resources and legitimacy or a skeptic who views Cat’s meddling as a hindrance to a sensitive, reopened case.

Hefin’s role brings the weight of the law into the narrative. DCI Parry represents the modern attempt to solve a historical cold case, and his methods will clash or align with Cat’s more personal approach. His presence raises the stakes, confirming that the case is being taken seriously at the highest levels and that the truth may finally be within reach.

11- Ifan Huw Dafydd as Wyn

Ifan Huw Dafydd returns as Wyn, completing the portrait of Llanemlyn’s community. Dafydd, a versatile character actor, brings Wyn to life as another piece of the intricate puzzle. Wyn might be a lifelong resident who has always kept to himself, a relative of one of the key figures, or someone who has quietly carried a burden of guilt or knowledge for eighteen years.

Dafydd’s performance, however small the role, contributes to the show’s authentic atmosphere. Every resident has a story, and Wyn’s perspective or sudden revelation could be the thread that unravels the entire mystery. His character is a reminder that in a town with a secret, everyone is connected, and no one is truly an innocent bystander.