Murder, Mayhem & Timothy Spall: Why Death Valley Is Our Must-Watch This May

We Brits can’t resist a cosy Sunday-night whodunnit – and if you toss in a few laughs, we’re sold. Good news then: Timothy Spall is back on the box in Death Valley, a fresh murder-mystery laced with laughs.

Filmed amid Wales’s rolling hills, the six-part caper pairs an unlikely detective duo and promises thrills, spills and giggles. Catch Death Valley from Sunday 25 May on BBC One – murder, mystery and chuckles incoming.

An Unlikely Crime-Solving Duo

Spall takes the lead as John Chapel, a retired actor famous for portraying a telly detective back in the day. When John’s neighbour turns up dead, art becomes life and he’s lumped with no-nonsense DS Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) to crack the case.

They’re chalk and cheese: Chapel works on hunches and ham, Janie lives by the book. Cue snappy banter and the odd barbed quip every time they clash. Look closer and you’ll spot a budding friendship – healing old wounds while collaring a killer each week.

And if you want a sense of the energy on set, Gwyneth Keyworth put it best:

“Murder. Mystery. Comedy. And Timothy Spall! I’m absolutely buzzing to be part of a show that celebrates Wales’s quirks and humour.”

Timothy Spall: From Barry to BAFTAs

Watch telly any time in the last four decades and you’ve probably laughed, gasped – maybe even sobbed – at a Timothy Spall performance.

• Barry in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet – the ’80s role that turned him into a household name. That big heart and Brummie charm sealed his spot as a national favourite.
• Wormtail in Harry Potter – that creepy turn as Peter Pettigrew spooked a whole new generation.
• Mike Leigh regular – from Secrets & Lies to his Cannes-winning J. M. W. Turner, Spall nails subtle drama as deftly as broad comedy.
• Most recently – his haunting turn in The Sixth Commandment scooped a BAFTA TV Award and an International Emmy.

Put simply: Spall is a national treasure – flipping from down-to-earth bloke to Shakespearean powerhouse in a heartbeat. So Spall tackling a witty, warm whodunnit like Death Valley is Sunday-night telly perfection.

Familiar Faces in the Cast

Spall may grab the headlines, but the supporting cast is just as tasty:

• Gwyneth Keyworth (DS Janie Mallowan) – all steel and spark opposite Spall.
• Steffan Rhodri – Dave Coaches rides again, this time as kindly DCI Clarke.
• Melanie Walters – Gwen from Gavin & Stacey, now Janie’s meddling mum, Yvonne.

And for those who love a bit of behind-the-scenes pedigree, Death Valley is created by Paul Doolan, a BAFTA-nominated writer (you might know him from Trollied). Chuck in a stack of cracking Welsh guest stars and it’s clear this show is bursting with talent.

When & Where to Watch

Death Valley kicks off at 8.15 pm, Sunday 25 May, on BBC One (and BBC One Wales). All six episodes hit BBC iPlayer the same night – binge away or pace yourself, your call.

And if you need a final nudge, even the BBC’s Comedy boss Jon Petrie is singing its praises:

Death Valley “has all the hallmarks of a BBC comedy classic.”

Why We’re Excited

Murder, mystery, comedy and sweeping Welsh hills – what’s not to adore? Death Valley serves up cosy-crime comfort with a cheeky twist. Every episode offers a new mystery, powered by Spall’s warmth and Keyworth’s razor-sharp detecting.

Spall can break hearts then split sides, and with this stacked cast he just might deliver BBC’s next cosy classic.

We’ll be tuning in – cuppa and Welsh cakes at the ready. Join us on the sofa and see if we crack the case before John and Janie do.