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DEATH VALLEY - sun 8pm bbc 1 - TV PACE NO SPOILERS

161 replies

Blondeshavemorefun · 21/05/2025 12:52

Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth play an unlikely crime-solving duo in the BBC's upcoming comedy drama Death Valley

The show is a comedy drama, much like the recent David Mitchell success Ludwig (https://www.tvguide.co.uk/streaming-guide/ludwig-series-2-return-series-1-ending-explained-bbc-one-iplayer). And it was created and written by the talented Paul Doolan, the man behind Mammoth, and Trollied - so we know we're in safe hands!

Penned and created by Paul Doolan, this six-part murder mystery charts the unlikely crime-solving alliance between a quirky national treasure and a charming Welsh detective sergeant.

BAFTA award-winning actor Timothy portrays John Chapel, a retired actor and star of the popular fictional detective TV show Caesar, while Gwyneth Keyworth steps into the role of DS Janie Mallowan.

John played Ceasar which was set in 1959 but made in the noughties but when his wife died he turned into a recluse and stoooed acting

Their paths intersect when John's neighbour is shockingly murdered in the show's opening scenes.
In their pursuit of truth, John and Janie unravel gripping murders each week, with various breathtaking Welsh locations serving as the backdrop to their investigations,

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," the synopsis continues.

He teams up with Welsh detective sergeant Janie Mallowan to make a rather unlikely crime-solving partnership. While he can turn the charm on (when he wants), she is as subtle as a brick.

They are thrown together when John's neighbour is murdered. The BBC synopsis tell us: "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."

We're told that when John and Janie are not arguing about a case, they're inevitably being nosy about each other's personal business.

The show's impressive cast also features Steffan Rhodri, Melanie Walters, Alexandria Riley, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Sian Gibson, Patricia Hodge and Jim Howick.

At a press event for the series, Timothy discussed the challenges he faced transitioning into a more comedic role, following a string of recent drama appearances.
The actor notably starred in the BBC (https://www.express.co.uk/latest/bbc) miniseries Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, as well as The Sixth Commandment and Summer of Rockets.
Timothy divulged the challenges of comedy, saying: "It's only hard because the expectation of making people laugh. Humour is big taste thing, some people like certa
in aspects of it and some people don't.

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TeenToTwenties · 02/06/2025 10:59

Enjoyable, lighthearted fun.

diddl · 02/06/2025 16:19

TeenToTwenties · 02/06/2025 10:59

Enjoyable, lighthearted fun.

I think that sums it up!

I was watching the first ep of Dept Q which I couldn't get into at all.

Watched this instead!

Blondeshavemorefun · 02/06/2025 19:52

Yes 2 from g&s now

enjoyed. Simple murders

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Blondeshavemorefun · 02/06/2025 19:52

Recap e2

https://reelmockery.com/death-valley-series-1-episode-2-recap/

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NewAgeNewMe · 02/06/2025 20:56

Really enjoyed episode 2 with Gwen and Dave Coaches 😉

DriftAlong · 02/06/2025 21:53

Episode 2 definitely better than 1 so will carry on and hope it continues improving.

2Rebecca · 02/06/2025 22:19

On ep 3. Timothy Spall is great. The female wp is annoyingly ditzy. I really hope the BBC don’t try to show horn the annoying mother in to everything the way they shoehorned the overbearing mother in to the Death in Paradise spinoff

martinisforeveryone · 03/06/2025 09:43

I’ve watched them all and really enjoyed the series. I treated it as a comedy based around crime. There were some real laugh out loud lines and a number of excellent cast members. I’d definitely watch another series.

myplace · 03/06/2025 09:56

Love the voices. Feels like home. Sometimes I think Welsh comedies come across as hammy and gurning to the English because a lot of people are very physically expressive there. Contrasting with the deadpan Ness.

Nourishinghandcream · 04/06/2025 00:04

Very nearly gave up after just 5-minutes but glad I stuck with it and have now watched them all.
Very enjoyable, light-hearted in the same way as Shakespeare & Hathaway (which I also loved).

moto748e · 04/06/2025 01:00

I think it's a bit of a cut above Shakespeare & Hathaway (which I don't dislike at all). But I agree with the 'nearly gave up after five minutes' bit! 😀

Rocknrollstar · 04/06/2025 06:14

Dept Q on Netflix is so much better.

moto748e · 04/06/2025 10:08

I started Dept Q last night. They are hardly comparable, not the same kind of show at all. I wasn't that taken with anyway, FWIW.

Saucery · 04/06/2025 14:26

It’s Ghosts, but with Murder instead of ghosts. Which is no bad thing.

purpleme12 · 05/06/2025 19:17

I didn't like Ghosts

Watched 2nd episode of Death Valley with my child and she loves it too so it's another programme we'll be watching together!

tinyspiny · 05/06/2025 19:21

I don’t think it’s anything like Ghosts , we’ve watched them all now and I found them extremely enjoyable , hope it gets renewed

BunnyRuddington · 05/06/2025 20:58

tinyspiny · 05/06/2025 19:21

I don’t think it’s anything like Ghosts , we’ve watched them all now and I found them extremely enjoyable , hope it gets renewed

I read that they are making series 2 although I’m menopausal and knackered so I wouldn’t treat anything I say as Gospel!

purpleme12 · 05/06/2025 21:05

They haven't announced if there'll be a second series or not yet

BunnyRuddington · 05/06/2025 21:18

purpleme12 · 05/06/2025 21:05

They haven't announced if there'll be a second series or not yet

I was looking up who wrote it and saw a bit that said he was working on a second series.

Unfortunately my brain cells are rapidly in decline so I can’t remember where o read it Blush

mum2jakie · 05/06/2025 21:28

It got higher viewing figures than Ludwig so there will definitely be a second series. I enjoyed Ludwig for the puzzles but this was more fun.

purpleme12 · 05/06/2025 21:33

Ok I've found it now

Paul Donovan (writer) says 'a second series is currently in development.' or that's what it says in the article.

In another article the main character police person has said she'd love to do a second series but she hasn't been told anything yet.

And all articles say the BBC haven't announced if there'll be a second series or not

diddl · 07/06/2025 09:21

Rocknrollstar · 04/06/2025 06:14

Dept Q on Netflix is so much better.

I can't get into that at all.

Thought it might be similar to Slow Horses which I loved, but I don't find any of the characters in Dept. Q interesting.

2Rebecca · 07/06/2025 11:51

I preferred Ludwig and the way this series ended made me suspect future series will be worse. I'm enjoying the Q series on Netflix but we seem to have gone from OTT silliness and excitability on Death Valley to OTT angst and misery on Q except for Kelly Macdonald who doesn't do any emotional expressions. It would be nice to have a series with more normal people in it.

diddl · 07/06/2025 12:19

the way this series ended made me suspect future series will be worse.

Yes!

It would have been interesting to end on but not incorporate imo.

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/06/2025 18:16

E3 tonight

Janie and John disagree how to investigate a death of a best man

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