Murder on the Blackpool Express

Murder on the Blackpool Express
Written byJason Cook
Directed bySimon Delaney
StarringJohnny Vegas
Sian Gibson
Sheila Reid
Una Stubbs
Katy Cavanagh
Nina Wadia
Kimberley Nixon
Nigel Havers
Griff Rhys Jones
Susie Blake
Kevin Eldon
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerJim Poyser
Running time91 minutes
Original release
Release11 November 2017 (2017-11-11)

Murder on the Blackpool Express is a 2017 comedy drama television film created by Jason Cook. Starring Johnny Vegas, Sian Gibson, Sheila Reid, Una Stubbs (in her final role), Griff Rhys Jones, Nina Wadia, Nigel Havers, Kimberley Nixon and Kevin Eldon.[1][2][3]

Broadcast in 2017, it became Gold's highest-rated show at the time, later rebroadcast on BBC Two.[4]

Synopsis

Old-age pensioners and mystery novel fans are on a budget bus tour to visit all the murder locations in a novel series, led by the books' author. Members of the tour start turning up dead and the police initially discount the deaths as accidents, leaving the tour guests to fend for themselves.[5][6] The title is a parody of Murder on the Orient Express.[7]

Cast

Production

Locations include "Bartleby Cathedral" (Ascot Priory), a stately home "Clesperley Manor" (Stoke Court),[8] a scenic country park with a cliff: Castle Rock,[9] Nether Alderley, Alderley Edge, United Kingdom and Blackpool: tower, ballroom, seafront.

Sequels and spin-offs

In December 2018, a sequel, Death on the Tyne (a spoof of another Hercule Poirot story by Agatha Christie, 'Death on the Nile'), aired on Gold, followed by a third film titled Dial M for Middlesbrough (a play on Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder) the following year.

In May 2021, Murder They Hope (this time parodying the series Murder She Wrote), a three-part follow-up series, aired on Gold as well.[10] Lee Mack appeared in the last episode as the character Willy Watkins.

Its success prompted the airing of a second series, Murder They Hope Too with Mack reprising his role as Watkins.[11]

A 2023 Christmas Special Blood Actually guest starred Martin Kemp, Peter Davison and Robert Webb.[12]

Episode Guide

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [13]UK viewers
(millions)
2"Death on the Tyne"Ed ByeJason Cook15 December 2018 (2018-12-15)N/A
3"Dial M for Middlesbrough"Ed ByeJason Cook14 December 2019 (2019-12-14)N/A
4"The Bunny Trap"Ed ByeJason Cook8 May 2021 (2021-05-08)N/A
5"Evil Under the Bun"Adam JenkinsJason Cook15 May 2021 (2021-05-15)N/A
6"Dales of the Unexpected"Ed ByeJason Cook22 May 2021 (2021-05-22)N/A
7"Can’t See Blood for the Trees"Sarmad MashudJason Cook24 October 2022 (2022-10-24)N/A
8"A Midsummer Night’s Scream"Ed ByeJason Cook25 October 2022 (2022-10-25)N/A
9"The Unusual Suspects"Ed ByeJason Cook26 October 2022 (2022-10-26)N/A
10"Blood Actually"Ed ByeJason Cook16 December 2023 (2023-12-16)N/A
11"Apocalypse Slough"Ed ByeJason Cook26 September 2024 (2024-09-26)N/A

References

  1. ^ "Murder On The Blackpool Express – Gold Comedy". British Comedy Guide.
  2. ^ "Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson star in Murder On The Blackpool Express". British Comedy Guide. 10 July 2017.
  3. ^ Morris, Sophie (10 July 2017). "Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson to star in new murder mystery comedy show".
  4. ^ Singh, Anita (12 July 2023). "A funny comedy film? Well that's something you don't often see on the BBC". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  5. ^ Wright, Jonathan; O'Connell, Sharon; Gibbings-Jones, Mark; Harris, Sophie; Catterall, Ali; Arnold, Ben; Mueller, Andrew; Howlett, Paul (11 November 2017). "Saturday's best TV: I Know Who You Are; Murder on the Blackpool Express". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  6. ^ Bennett, Steve. "Murder On The Blackpool Express : Reviews 2017". chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  7. ^ Steve (27 July 2022). "Review: MURDER ON THE BLACKPOOL EXPRESS (2017)". mysteryfile. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  8. ^ Pioneer (GB), Pioneer House, Hollybush Hill, Stoke Poges
  9. ^ Cook, Jason. "Murder On The Blackpool Express, Gold". Broadcast now .co.uk. Media Business Insight Limited. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Murder, They Hope - Gold Comedy". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  11. ^ Clark, Caren (18 October 2022). "Murder They Hope season 2: release date, cast, plot and all we know". what to watch .com. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Murder, They Hope Blood Actually: A 'Murder, They Hope' Mystery". British Comedy Guide. 2023.
  13. ^ [https: "MurderTheyHope"]. bbc. Retrieved 11 May 2021. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)