“Old Town Murders: BBC’s New Crime Drama Melding City and Faith”
The BBC has commissioned a six-part Welsh crime drama titled Old Town Murders. The series pairs two veteran detectives in a coastal setting.
Premise
DI Glyn Walsh and DS Sion Dearden are former friends and long-term partners. Both men return to duty as they cope with personal hardship.
The first case follows the unexpected death of a respected university professor. The investigation draws the pair into the university’s hidden corners.
Subsequent episodes present a string of baffling deaths. Cases include the poisoning of a head teacher who drowns while wild swimming and a triathlon mistaken-identity incident. The detectives also share a house while working the cases.
Tone and themes
The show is billed as a witty, twisty series. It mixes procedural puzzles with quieter themes of friendship and second chances.
Old Town Murders is the BBC’s new crime drama melding city and faith imagery with seaside mysteries. The creator describes it as a story about reinvention later in life.
Cast and creative team
- Mark Lewis Jones as DI Glyn Walsh. Recent credits include Baby Reindeer and The Crown.
- Steffan Rhodri as DS Sion Dearden. Known for Keeping Faith and Steeltown Murders.
- James Bamford as DC Neil Miller. Credits include The Red King and Masters of the Air.
- Bethan Mary-James as DC Remy Jones. Appeared in The Guest and Death Valley.
- Catherine Ayers as Chief Superintendent Melanie Morris. Her credits include The Guest and Missing You.
- Julie Graham as forensic biologist Pamela Thomas. She recently appeared in This City is Ours and Time.
Matthew Barry, the Welsh-born writer of The Guest, created and executive produced the show. Producers Davina Earl and Nicola Shindler lead Quay Street Productions.
Production and release
Filming has begun in Tenby, Cardiff and along the South Wales coastline. The BBC has not announced a release date yet.
Filmogaz.com will post updates once a broadcast date is confirmed. The series will span six episodes.
Further viewing
Fans of cosy crime may enjoy Recipes for Love and Murder. The show pairs culinary charm with amateur sleuthing.
For a darker option, Thirteen stars Jodie Comer as a woman who escapes captivity after thirteen years. All five episodes are currently available on BBC iPlayer.
