The truth about Graham’s killer…
IN A TOP-SECRET PRESS CONFERENCE, JONATHAN WRATHER TELLS ALL ON PIERCE’S KILLER RETURN…
In the days leading up to the much-anticipated reveal of who murdered
Graham, Inside Soap was invited to a secret audience with the unnamed actor behind the killer character.
A few hours prior to this clandestine meeting, we were given privileged access to watch the big reveal episode before anyone else – and as Rhona’s convicted rapist of an ex-husband Pierce loomed out of the darkness, we were knocked for six!
While it’s of course a delight to come face to face with star Jonathan Wrather again, the last time we saw Pierce was back in the summer of 2017, when he was being sent down for raping Rhona on their wedding day. So he was the very last person we expected to be rearing his ugly head in the village once more…
What a shocker, Jonathan! You must have been sworn to secrecy for months…
It’s been a lot of fun! I’ve been shuffled in and out of the studio, and my building pass had another name and photo on it. I was ‘Mark Bloomfield’, and I was referred to as Mark in the script. I had a slight identity crisis! Half the cast didn’t know I was coming back – we’ve been keeping this amazing secret, so hopefully it pays off. But all the skulking about has added to the excitement.
How did you feel when you were asked to return?
I was thrilled, as I’d had such a good time filming here. But they couldn’t give me too many details about the story at first, so it was a bit of a leap of faith. I asked would I work with Zoe Henry [Rhona] again, and when the answer was yes, it was a no-brainer – I jumped at the chance.
Pierce is not long out of prison when we see him. Would he have stayed away from the village if not for Graham’s visit to his home?
“Pierce feels judged and humiliated by Graham”
I think most definitely he would have stayed away – Pierce feels Graham is the catalyst for what’s happened. Pierce feels judged and humiliated by Graham. He was just getting on with his life and had no intention of contacting Rhona until meeting Graham at the flat.
But what’s his motive for murdering Graham?
He wants to rescue Rhona. Pierce is well aware that he’s been violent, coercive and abusive himself, but he sees Graham as a danger to Rhona. He reads these characters well – from his experience as a lawyer, and perhaps his time in prison has also informed him. So he wants to save Rhona from her poor decision. He’s on a moral crusade – her so-called knight in shining armour.
Can he come to terms with being a killer, though?
For Pierce, it’s justifiable. He thinks he’s helped Rhona, so he can compute that in his conscience – however skewed that is! He’s provided a service and changed Rhona’s life for the better, he believes.
Does he still have feelings for Rhona?
Realistically he’s probably burnt that bridge, but if there
was any chance he could be forgiven and set things straight between them, he’d jump at the chance. But that’s because in his mind – as he’s been having therapy in prison – he’s rehabilitated.
Could Rhona take revenge against Pierce?
Would she want to, has she got it in her? Rhona is notoriously feisty and doesn’t stand for anything. But she could also be terrified – Pierce is out there and what’s he going to do? She certainly reacts in a way that we don’t know what she’s capable of – let’s put it that way.
What’s in store for Pierce?
Well, I can’t say much – he’ll be around for a little bit, and there’s some very exciting stuff to come. But as always, it’s not what you expect!