'Death Valley' to March in at the End of May 2025

Fictional detectives always have odd names, from Arthur Conan Doyle's famous Sherlock Holmes to Agatha Christie's funny little Belgian, Poirot, who was given the first name "Hercule." Fictional TV detectives also have unusual names, such as Columbo and Matlock. The latter is what Only Murders in the Building was poking fun at when they named Steve Martin's former TV detective character Brazzos; the former is what Death Valley is parodying with star Timothy Spall (The Sixth Commandment) who plays retired actor John Chapel, in naming the former Detective Inspector he played on TV "Charles Caesar."

That's just one of the delightful little details in BritBox's next comedic crime series that follows in the wake of Ludwig Season 1's success. A Welsh production, Death Valley should be categorized under the "amateur & professional odd couple cozy crime series," the likes of which are exemplified by Grantchester. The "amateur" half of the cozy crime-detecting duo is the aforementioned Chapel, a world-renowned actor and "national treasure" after starring for years as the lead in Caesar, apparently a big hit on both sides of the pond. (We will assume it ran on Masterpiece at 9 p.m. on Sundays on local PBS stations back in the day, until told otherwise.) 

Playing a detective on TV does not exactly make Chapel a natural at solving crimes in his Welsh community. But his crime-solving partner, DS Janie Mallowan, played by Gwyneth Keyworth (Lost Boys & Fairies), isn't in a position to be choosy. 

Check out the trailer.

Here's the series' full synopsis:

DS Janie Mallowan is desperate to solve the big cases and progress her career. While investigating the death by apparent suicide of wealthy property developer Carwyn Rees, she meets none other than John Chapel, a retired actor who played her TV detective idol, Inspector Charles Caesar. Eccentric and reclusive John uses his insight into character to deduce that Carwyn was murdered, though Janie is initially sceptical of his conclusions.

When forensics prove his theory right, Janie quietly asks him to help with the case. Having shut himself away from the world for years, John is initially reluctant to help. But together they work to solve an intriguing mystery involving an environmental activist, a grieving widow and a bitter business rival, painting the portrait of a man who kept a lot of secrets from those closest to him. Although John and Janie are not ready to admit it, this first case is the start of an iconic crime-solving partnership, and a friendship, too.

Spall and Keyworth are joined by an ensemble cast that also includes Melanie Walters (Father Brown) as Janie's mother, Yvonne; Steffan Rhodri (Gavin & Stacey) as Janie's boss, DCI Clarke; and Alexandria Riley (Lost Boys & Fairies) as her BBF, Dr. Helen Baxter. The cast is rounded out by Remy Beasley (Steeltown Murders) as Rhiannon, Oliver Ryan (The Pembrokeshire Murders) as Ceri Richardson, Rithvik Andugula (Extraordinary) as co-worker DC Evan Chaudhry, Jim Howick (Sex Education) as Constable Atkins, and Mike Bubbins (Mammoth) as Desk Sergeant Tony. 

This being a "mystery of the week" series, the series will feature a roster of guest stars in each episode. For the show's inaugural season, we've got several PBS favorites, including Patricia Hodge (All Creatures Great & Small), Karl Johnson (Lark Rise to Candleford), and Vicki Pepperdine (The Trouble with Maggie Cole). Other guests for the season include Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts), Sian Gibson (The Power of Parker), Colin McFarlane (The War Between the Land & the Sea), Steve Speirs (Dickensian), and Amy Trigg (Such Brave Girls).

Series creator Paul Doolan (Bloods) penned all six episodes of Death Valley with Sian Harries. Director Simon Hynd (There She Goes) helmed all installments, with Nikki Wilson producing. Doolan also acts as executive producer alongside Josh Cole and Madeline Addy. The series was filmed in Wales with locations including Penarth and Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Death Valley will premiere with two episodes on BritBox on Thursday, May 29, 2025, and will continue with one episode a week through the end of June. The series has not yet been commissioned for a second season.