Murder on the Blackpool Express
Murder on the Blackpool Express is a 2017 comedy drama television film created by Jason Cook. Starring Johnny Vegas, Sian Gibson, Sheila Reid, Katy Cavanagh, Una Stubbs (In her final performance), Nina Wadia, Kimberley Nixon , Matthew Cottle, Nigel Havers, Javone Prince, Susie Blake, Mark Heap, Griff Rhys Jones 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 Matthew Cottle Mark Heap Javone Prince Nigel Havers Susie Blake Kevin Eldon Griff Rhys Jones |
| Composer | Samuel Karl Bohn |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Jim Poyser |
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Production companies | Shiny Button Productions Tiger Aspect Productions |
| Release | |
| Original release | 11 November 2017 |
A sequel, Death on the Tyne, aired on Gold the following year, on 15 December 2018. A third film titled Dial M For Middlesbrough aired in 2019.[4]
A three-part follow-up series titled Murder They Hope aired on Gold with the first episode on 8 May 2021.[5] A second series aired on Gold in late 2022.
It is one of Gold's most watched programmes, reaching 1.242 million people.[6]
Episodes
| # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | Duration | UK viewers (million)[7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Murder on the Blackpool Express" | Simon Delaney | Jason Cook | 11 November 2017 | 92 minutes | 1.82 |
|
The story follows Terry, the despondent driver of the coach who's stuck in a rut. He has no goal or passions, apart from an unrequited love interest in tour organiser, Gemma. But everything changes when an OAP dies under suspicious circumstances and Terry suspects something sinister is afoot. Soon the number of passengers has seriously dwindled and Terry feels compelled to solve the mystery and save Gemma's business; hopefully winning her love in the process. With everyone a suspect and a potential next victim, can Terry and Gemma keep the group together, address their burgeoning attraction for each other, fend off the police, and make it to Blackpool Tower with their lives intact? | ||||||
| 2 | "Death on the Tyne" | Ed Bye | Jason Cook | 12 May 2018 | 91 minutes | 1.25 |
|
Terry and Gemma promise to take Mildred and her care home friends, including Hilda and Colleen on an Amsterdam cruise adventure across the Tyne. They're welcomed aboard the Empress of the Tyne by ageing lothario Captain Jack and his motley crew - Cruise Director Denise, First Officer Justin Valentine, DJ Bobby, ex-pianist Alan, barmaid Tracy and self-obsessed cabaret singer Emily. It's not long before things start to go awry in the most puzzling mystery the Tyne has ever seen. | ||||||
| 3 | "Dial M for Middlesbrough" | Ed Bye | Jason Cook | 14 December 2019 | 92 minutes | 1.68 |
| The next outing sees the coach break down in the middle of nowhere - or to be specific, just outside Middlesbrough, in the middle of a fierce thunderstorm. Will our heroes survive the horrors of their enforced 'extra stop' - the sinister and dilapidated Shady Creek Caravan Park? | ||||||
| 4 | "Murder, They Hope" | Ed Bye, Adam Jenkins | Jason Cook, Emily Fairweather | 8 May 2021 | TBA | TBA |
| (three-part series) Gemma and Terry are now full time private investigators. | ||||||
Cast
- Johnny Vegas as Terry Bremmer
- Sian Gibson as Gemma Draper
- Sheila Reid as Mildred
- Una Stubbs as Peggy
- Katy Cavanagh as Grace
- Matthew Cottle as George
- Kimberley Nixon as Laura Bishop
- Nina Wadia as Moira Colliston
- Mark Heap as Graham
- Nigel Havers as Doc
- Kevin Eldon as Kevin
- 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
References
- Guide, British Comedy. "Murder on the Blackpool Express – Gold Comedy Drama – British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide.
- Guide, British Comedy (10 July 2017). "Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson star in Murder on the Blackpool Express".
- Morris, Sophie (10 July 2017). "Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson to star in new murder mystery comedy show".
- "Dial M For Middlesbrough". Gold. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- Guide, British Comedy. "Murder, They Hope - Gold Comedy Drama". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- "Weekly top 10 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018)".
- "Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)". BARB. Archived from the original on 29 March 2007.