Death Valley / BBC / BritBox

“Death Valley” BBC Studios

Death Valley follows the unlikely crime-solving partnership between eccentric national treasure John Chapel, a retired actor and star of the hit fictional detective TV show ‘Caesar,’ and disarming Welsh detective sergeant Janie Mallowan. Thrown together by the murder of John’s neighbor, John and Janie are an odd yet hilarious duo with opposing instincts.

Every week, they get to the bottom of gripping murders, with various stunning Welsh locations providing a backdrop to their investigations. When John and Janie do not argue about a case, they inevitably end up in each other’s business. Despite their differences, they soon realize they are the closest thing each other has to a best friend and unwittingly help one another move on from the past.

Spall and Keyworth are joined by an ensemble cast that also includes Steffan Rhodri (Gavin & Stacey) as Janie's boss, DCI Clarke; Alexandria Riley (Lost Boys & Fairies) as Baxter, Janie's BFF and the series' straight-talking pathologist; and Melanie Walters (Father Brown) as Janie's mother Yvonne. The cast is rounded out by Remy Beasley (Steeltown Murders) as Janie's frenemy Rhiannon; Rithvik Andugula (Extraordinary) as co-worker DC Evan Chaudhry, and Mike Bubbins (Mammoth) as Tony, the overly friendly Desk Sergeant.

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), Jim Howick (Sex Education), 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.