Following on from 2019’s hugely popular Dial M for Middlesbrough, the next instalment of Gold’s hit UKTV Original comedy murder mystery franchise returns this Spring. Three-parter Murder, They Hope will see three times as many comedy capers as Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson reprise their roles as Terry and Gemma alongside a whole host of comedy stars including Sarah Hadland (Miranda) as Monica, Gemma’s spotlight stealing sister.
Shobna Gulati (dinnerladies) joins as a series regular as Gemma’s sister-in-law and local police officer Vicky, while every episode offers up a brilliant array of episodic ensembles including Lee Mack (Not Going Out), Paul Whitehouse (The Fast Show), Hannah Waddingham (Sex Education), Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts), Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey), Jason Barnett (Bridgerton), Layton Williams (Bad Education), Nitin Ganatra (EastEnders), Steve Edge (Benidorm), Janine Duvitski (Benidorm) and comedian Jason Manford.
After their trip to Middlesbrough turned a little more explosive than they thought, Gemma (Sian Gibson) and Terry (Johnny Vegas) finally decide to pack up the smouldering remains of their coach tour business and set out on a new adventure as fully-fledged private detectives. Given all their experience with solving cases (sort of), that mysteriously fall into their laps, the duo are confident that it won’t be long before they get the chance to put their skills to the test. Sadly, the cases don’t come rolling in and the duo find themselves moving in with Gemma’s sister Monica and praying business picks up soon.
Sure enough the first case that hops into their laps comes via a local car boot sale, where a mysterious red eyed rabbit figurine causes a bidding war and attracts the attention of the dreaded, but appropriately named, Bunnyman. Episode two sees Gemma and Terry heroically graduate from bunnies to bakers, when they are tasked with getting to the bottom of a poisoned pastry scandal as two rival baking families turn up the heat on a long-standing feud. The final instalment of the trilogy sees the intrepid duo lured back into their old world of coach tours as they help the local police in a county-wide hunt for a bus-based serial killer.
The series also welcomes Gemma Wardle, Ken Collard, Abdul Salis, Paul David, James Lance, Niall Ramsome, George Fouracres, Phil Cornwell, Richard David-Caine, Olivia Nakintu and Ethan Lawrence.
The Agatha Christie-inspired whodunnits have been huge hits for Gold in recent years. Jason Cook’s first outing Murder on the Blackpool Express attracted 1.8 million viewers during its first week and the channel has enjoyed success since with Death on the Tyne and Dial M for Middlesbrough.
Murder, They Hope will air on Gold on Saturdays from May 8.
