The BBC has ordered ‘Death Valley‘, a new crime-comedy drama from Paul Doolan (Mammoth, Trollied), which stars BAFTA-winning Timothy Spall (The Sixth Commandment, Mr Turner) and Gwyneth Keyworth (Alex Rider, Hidden, Defending the Guilty) as an unlikely crime-solving duo in Wales.
‘Death Valley’ follows the unlikely crime-solving partnership between eccentric national treasure John Chapel (Spall), a retired actor and star of the fictional hit detective TV show “Caesar”, and disarming Welsh detective sergeant Janie Mallowan (Keyworth).
Thrown together by the murder of John’s neighbour, John and Janie are an odd, yet hilarious duo with opposing instincts. Every week, they get to the bottom of gripping murders, with various stunning Welsh locations providing a backdrop to their investigations.
When John and Janie are not arguing about a case, they’re inevitably up in each other’s personal business. Despite their differences, they soon realise they are the closest thing each other has to a best friend, and unwittingly help one another move on from the past.
“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,” said Spall. “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.”
The six-episode series is a BBC Studios Comedy Production for BBC Two, BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer, written and created by BAFTA-nominated Paul Doolan. The series was ordered by Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy and Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning BBC Wales. The Commissioning Editors are Seb Barwell for BBC Comedy, and Paul Forde for BBC Wales. Directed by Simon Hynd and Produced by Nikki Wilson, the Executive Producers are Paul Doolan, Josh Cole and Madeline Addy. BBC Studios will distribute the series internationally. Additional funding support has been provided by Creative Wales, the Welsh Government agency that supports the growth of the Creative Sectors. Filming begins in Wales next month.
“This series has all the hallmarks of a BBC Comedy classic,” adds Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy at the BBC. “It’s the perfect comedy-drama caper which never forgets the funny. We feel thoroughly spoiled to have such a wonderful cast on board.”
‘Death Valley‘ Season 1 does not yet have a premiere date but will air on BBC Two, BBC One Wales and iPlayer. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add it via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.