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]
| Murder on the Blackpool Express | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Jason Cook |
| Directed by | Simon Delaney |
| Starring | Johnny Vegas Sian Gibson Sheila Reid Una Stubbs Katy Cavanagh Nina Wadia Kimberley Nixon Nigel Havers Griff Rhys Jones Susie Blake Kevin Eldon |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Jim Poyser |
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Release | 11 November 2017 |
Broadcast in 2017, it became Gold's highest-rated show at the time, later rebroadcast on BBC Two.[4]
Synopsis
editOld-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
edit- Johnny Vegas as Terry
- Sian Gibson as Gemma Draper
- Una Stubbs as Peggy
- Sheila Reid as Mildred
- Kimberley Nixon as Laura Bishop
- Nina Wadia as Moira Colliston
- Nigel Havers as Doc
- Kevin Eldon as Kevin
- Mark Heap as Graham
- Katy Cavanagh as Grace
- Matthew Cottle as George
- Javone Prince as Ben
- Griff Rhys Jones as David
- Susie Blake as Marge Grimshaw
- Jason Cook as Arcade Attendant
- Layla Cook as Young Laura Bishop
- Catherine Harvey as Mary
- Steve Brody as Barry
- Peter Singh as PC Collins
- Chris Anderson as Medic 1
- Chris Ramsey as Medic 2
Production
editLocations 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
editIn 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
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date [13] | UK viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | "Death on the Tyne" | Ed Bye | Jason Cook | 15 December 2018 | N/A |
| 3 | "Dial M for Middlesbrough" | Ed Bye | Jason Cook | 14 December 2019 | N/A |
| 4 | "The Bunny Trap" | Ed Bye | Jason Cook | 8 May 2021 | N/A |
| 5 | "Evil Under the Bun" | Adam Jenkins | Jason Cook | 15 May 2021 | N/A |
| 6 | "Dales of the Unexpected" | Ed Bye | Jason Cook | 22 May 2021 | N/A |
| 7 | "Can’t See Blood for the Trees" | Sarmad Mashud | Jason Cook | 24 October 2022 | N/A |
| 8 | "A Midsummer Night’s Scream" | Ed Bye | Jason Cook | 25 October 2022 | N/A |
| 9 | "The Unusual Suspects" | Ed Bye | Jason Cook | 26 October 2022 | N/A |
| 10 | "Blood Actually" | Ed Bye | Jason Cook | 16 December 2023 | N/A |
| 11 | "Apocalypse Slough" | Ed Bye | Jason Cook | 26 September 2024 | N/A |
References
edit- ^ "Murder On The Blackpool Express – Gold Comedy". British Comedy Guide.
- ^ "Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson star in Murder On The Blackpool Express". British Comedy Guide. 10 July 2017.
- ^ Morris, Sophie (10 July 2017). "Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson to star in new murder mystery comedy show".
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Bennett, Steve. "Murder On The Blackpool Express : Reviews 2017". chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Steve (27 July 2022). "Review: MURDER ON THE BLACKPOOL EXPRESS (2017)". mysteryfile. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Pioneer (GB), Pioneer House, Hollybush Hill, Stoke Poges
- ^ Cook, Jason. "Murder On The Blackpool Express, Gold". Broadcast now .co.uk. Media Business Insight Limited. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Murder, They Hope - Gold Comedy". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Murder, They Hope Blood Actually: A 'Murder, They Hope' Mystery". British Comedy Guide. 2023.
- ^ [https: "MurderTheyHope"]. bbc. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
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External links
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