BAFTA winning Timothy Spall (The Sixth Commandment, Mr Turner) is to lead the cast of new murder mystery comedy drama Death Valley on the BBC.
Written and created by Paul Doolan (Mammoth, Trollied) and set in Wales, Death Valley follows the unlikely crime-solving partnership between eccentric national treasure John Chapel (Timothy Spall), a retired actor and star of hit fictional detective TV show ‘Caesar’, and disarming Welsh detective sergeant Janie Mallowan, played by Gwyneth Keyworth (Alex Rider, Hidden, Defending the Guilty).
Brought together by the tragic murder of John’s neighbour, John and Janie form an unconventional and comedic partnership, despite their contrasting instincts. Each episode sees them solving enthralling murder mysteries against the scenic backdrop of various Welsh locales.
While they often find themselves at odds over investigative approaches, John and Janie frequently meddle in each other’s personal lives. Although different, they gradually discover they’re each other’s closest allies and unwittingly assist one another in overcoming their personal histories.
Joining the cast are Steffan Rhodri (The Way, House of the Dragon, Steeltown Murders) as DCI Clarke – Janie’s boss and so-called mentor!; Alexandria Riley (Baby Reindeer, Lost Boys and Fairies, The Pembrokeshire Murders) as Baxter a straight talking pathologist and friend of Janie; Melanie Walters (Gavin & Stacey, Father Brown) as Yvonne, Janie’s ‘no boundaries’ mother; Remy Beasley (One Day, Steeltown Murders) as Rhiannon the picture of perfection and an old adversary from Janie’s past; Mike Bubbins (Mammoth) as Tony – the un-self-aware and overly friendly Desk Sergeant and Rithvik Andugula (Extraordinary) as DC Evan Chaudhry – the eager to please and somewhat naïve junior police officer.
Guest artists featuring across the series include, Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts), Sian Gibson (Mammoth, Peter Kay’s Car Share), Patricia Hodge (A Very English Scandal, All Creatures Great and Small), Jim Howick (Ghosts, Here We Go, The Change), Karl Johnson (True Love, The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies, Wolf), Colin McFarlane (The War Between The Land and the Sea, The Dark Knight Trilogy), Vicki Pepperdine (Poor Things, Worzel Gummidge) Steve Speirs (Inside No.9, After Life), Amy Trigg (Such Brave Girls, Luther, The Reckoning).
Timothy Spall said: “I’m really looking forward to teaming up with the brilliant Gwyneth Keyworth and the fantastically talented team of creatives and technicians on this new and unique comedy drama.
“I’m relishing the prospect of getting stuck in as we embark on creating this truly oddball detective duo who develop their unusual combined eccentric skills to hilarious and surprisingly successful effect in beautiful rural Wales and its gorgeous towns and villages.”
Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy at the BBC added: “This series has all the hallmarks of a BBC Comedy classic; it’s the perfect comedy drama caper which never forgets the funny. We feel thoroughly spoiled to have such a wonderful cast on board.”
More on: BBC
