The BBC has released a batch of first-look images and revealed the rather excellent guest cast for Series 2 of ‘Death Valley’, the record-breaking comedy-crime drama starring Timothy Spall (The Sixth Commandment) and Gwyneth Keyworth (Black Mirror), which returns this May on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The unlikely crime-solving duo are back as retired actor John Chapel and the disarming Welsh detective Janie Mallowan, following a first series which became a breakout hit for the BBC. On launch, ‘Death Valley’ delivered the biggest overnight audience for a new scripted show in five years, going on to average 4.6 million viewers across 28 days. In Wales, it was also the number one comedy across all channels and platforms in 2025.
Series 2 picks up a few months after the events of the first run, with Janie now promoted to Detective Inspector and buried under a steadily growing mountain of paperwork. Unfortunately, her personal life is not exactly helping matters, as she has been avoiding John since discovering he has been dating her mum. Awkward? Very. Useful when there is a murder to solve? Apparently, also yes.
Janie is forced to bring John back into the fold when DCI Barry Clarke orders her to use him as the department’s consultant following a murder in a Community Payback group. From there, the new series sees John reluctantly re-enter the acting world on the set of a grand Welsh fantasy TV series when the pair are called in to investigate another murder. Whether that reignites his old theatrical spark remains to be seen, but knowing John, one suspects subtlety will not be the order of the day.
Alongside Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth, the returning regular cast includes Alexandria Riley (The Pact) as Helen Baxter, Steffan Rhodri (Gavin & Stacey) as DCI Barry Clarke, Melanie Walters (Gavin & Stacey) as Yvonne Mallowan, and Rithvik Andugula as DC Evan Chaudhry.
The guest cast for Series 2 is absolutely stacked, with Jane Horrocks (Here We Go), Hammed Animashaun (Black Ops), Alexandra Roach (Killing Eve), Roisin Conaty (After Life), Mark Lewis Jones (Chernobyl), Jim Howick (Ghosts), Owen Teale (Game of Thrones), Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing), Lynn Hunter (Pushers), Rhiannon Clements (Small Prophets), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), Liz Carr (Silent Witness) and Amit Shah (Happy Valley) all appearing across the series.
The new run will see John and Janie investigating murders across mid-Wales, including cases in a coastal fishing village, a sustainable commune, the competitive world of rugby, and, because this is ‘Death Valley’, the set of a Welsh fantasy epic. Somewhere out there, a very nervous TV producer is probably checking the insurance forms.
The six-part series is written and created by BAFTA-nominated Paul Doolan, with episode writers Sian Harries, Ian Jarvis, and Nina Metivier. Series 2 is directed by Simon Hynd and Claire Winyard, with Nikki Wilson producing. The executive producers are Madeline Addy, Josh Cole, Paul Doolan and Timothy Spall.
‘Death Valley’ Series 1 and 2 have also sold to more than 100 international markets, including Australia, North America via BritBox, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Greece and New Zealand.
‘Death Valley’ Series 2 premieres Sunday, 17th May 2026 at 8.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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