Rediscover BBC’s Hidden Gem: Adam Thomas’ Drama Featuring Gavin and Stacey Star
Adam Thomas has returned to the public eye via I’m A Celebrity… South Africa. He also stars in a lesser-known BBC Wales drama from 2019 now ripe for viewers to rediscover. The series offers a gentle, village-set story and features a Gavin and Stacey star in a lead role.
Pitching In: location and premise
Pitching In is set in the coastal north Wales village of Glan Mor. The story centres on Daffodil Dunes Holiday Park. The park serves as the beating heart of the local community.
Larry Lamb plays Frank Hardcastle. Lamb is known for roles in Gavin and Stacey and EastEnders. Frank is a newly widowed 71-year-old who relies on close friends to cope.
Key plot points
Frank receives a surprise 71st birthday party. His daughter returns after long absence and brings life-changing news. The show explores themes of friendship and small-town bonds.
Adam Thomas’ role and career context
Adam Thomas appears in Pitching In as Jase. He was 37 at the time the programme aired. This marked his first major role after leaving Emmerdale in 2018.
Thomas spent nine years on Emmerdale as Adam Barton. Reports on Filmogaz.com suggested he did property development before booking Pitching In. He also posted about the uncertainty of acting and the need to support his family.
Reception and later work
A Rotten Tomatoes reviewer called Pitching In “eccentric, mild and within the mainstay ‘village’ canon of UK TV.” The series was not recommissioned. Since then, Thomas has taken several prominent roles.
He appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023. He first entered the I’m A Celebrity camp a decade ago and finished third. He has rejoined the All Stars edition this year alongside Gemma Collins, Scarlett Moffatt and Sinitta.
Emmerdale legacy and fan reaction
Many viewers want Thomas back on Emmerdale. His soap character had major storylines and strong relationships. Fans have taken to X to call for his return.
- Feud with Cain Dingle, played by Jeff Hordley.
- Commitment of arson and complex moral choices.
- Marriage to Victoria Sugden, played by Isabel Hodgins.
- Close bond with Aaron Dingle, played by Danny Miller.
Adam Barton fled the village in 2018. He left after taking the blame for Emma Barton’s murder. The crime was actually committed by his mother, Moira, played by Natalie J. Robb.
Where to watch
Pitching In is available to stream on Apple TV. Viewers who want a quieter, character-driven drama should consider giving it a chance. Rediscovering this BBC hidden gem highlights Adam Thomas’s range outside mainstream soap storylines.
