'Misguided' and more - TV scriptwriter Carys Thomas talks to Rhiwbina Info

In a special interview for Rhiwbina Info, award-winning local scriptwriter Carys Thomas tells us about her new TV sitcom pilot Misguided, based on her experiences growing up in Rhiwbina.

As we reported in May, Misguided is available to stream on Channel4.com and YouTube.

It follows former popular girl and full-time rebel Rhiannon, as she's forced to join a deeply uncool Guide group, with a cast including Lauren Morais, Nerys Amber Stocks, Meg Alexandra, Nia Gandhi, Sarah Hadland, Mike Bubbins, and Elis James.

Photo: Channel 4

Can you tell us a bit about your childhood?

So, I grew up in Lon-y-Deri just off the main road in Rhiwbina and went to Rhiwbeina Primary. My parents still live there now, so I visit regularly. My childhood was mostly spent cycling my bike over to the old Spar, playing at the Heol Llanishen Fach Park and watching movies. I even got to catch some at The Monico before it closed!

I was also a member of the Girl Guides! I went to the one at All Saints' church and have very fond memories of it. I did a lot of their camps across Wales, too, like Broneirion. If you ever went to one of the fetes at All Saints about 20 years ago, I may well have sold you some bric-a-brac!

What was the inspiration for Misguided? Are any of these characters based on real people?

I keep a page of my notes on my phone where I write down ideas for shows, funny memories or observations. I remembered a funny coming-of-age moment from a Girl Guides camp that stuck with me, when one of the older girls played us Black Eyed Peas on her old flip phone, and we thought it was the height of cool.

When you’re younger, you feel like you know it all, but you’re still learning, and I loved how this mirrored the different things you learned in guiding meetings. I liked the idea of mirroring the lessons we all learn as teenagers with what you learn each week in those groups.

I haven’t based the characters directly on anybody, but there’s a lot of myself in a few of them. I was 100% a Kate in school, very anxious and wanting to do well. I think I wish I could have been a Rhiannon, though!

And though Mark isn’t based directly on my own Dad, seeing him deal with the madness of having two daughters as I grew up did lend some inspiration!

What can you tell us about your writing experience so far?

I started dipping my toe into screenwriting around 2020, and that’s when I properly fell in love with it. Before that, I was working as a copywriter in advertising, but during lockdown, I did a course online on how to write TV and movies and discovered a new passion.

After that, I spent a few years writing from home, entering competitions and working on my craft. In 2024, I entered the first ten pages of the screenplay for Misguided into the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Initiative and was one of the winners for comedy. Since then, I’ve been a working screenwriter!

How did this Channel 4 commission come about?  

So, at the time I placed in BAFTA Rocliffe, the producer I came to with on Misguided was a member of the jury. Following the win, she asked me if I wanted to go for a coffee, and I was very excited as I had never been for a coffee with a TV person before.

I was still working in an office then, so I had to scurry over on my lunch break to meet her, and that’s when she said she would like to option the show. At this point, I didn’t even have an agent, and luckily, she introduced me to one, and that’s really what started my career.

We then worked together on the script for the first episode, and Channel 4 picked it up to develop. We wrote a second episode and, off the back of that, were commissioned to make a blap (which is a short pilot!)

How did you feel when you learned they were making the pilot?

It was very surreal. When I wrote Misguided, I did it from my living room with no contacts in the TV industry. I was just having fun and enjoying writing.

I can still remember the day I found out I was shortlisted for BAFTA Rocliffe, and that alone was huge for me. Learning we were going to be bringing it to life was such a dream. Especially getting to work with so much brilliant Welsh talent to make it happen.

How involved were you in the production?

I was heavily involved and present with the production and a good deal of the casting! At the auditions, it was our producer Charlie Lewis, our casting director Catherine Willis, our director Akaash Meeda and I, and we all made the decisions collaboratively.

It was great to meet all the talent and see more of how the process worked, as I’m still very new to it all. I got to have input on lots of different things, from wardrobe to set design.

How do you feel about the finished product? And what has reaction been?

I’m thrilled with how Misguided has turned out, and the reaction has been brilliant. I’ve especially had lots of lovely messages from Rhiwbina residents! It’s been great seeing people relate to it and leave their comments. I did an interview with BAFTA recently, and that was surreal, speaking to them about a show based on my childhood in Rhiwbina. I’m just so happy people have enjoyed it, and it’s brought people a laugh or a smile.

What's next for you?

I have a few projects in development, so I’m writing away. I’ve just written my first feature film, which has always been a dream of mine, so hopefully you will see that one day. But mostly it is just me in my living room writing, writing, writing. Good luck, Carys!

You can see the pilot for Misguided here.