Gavin & Stacey legend confirmed for brand-new “witty, twisty” BBC crime series

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I’m so excited to hear that Steffan Rhodri, who I absolutely loved as Dave Coaches in Gavin & Stacey, is going to be the star of a new BBC crime drama! It’s set along the beautiful Welsh coastline, and I can’t wait to see him take on this new role.

The actor best known for his role as Dave Coaches in the popular BBC comedy will be appearing alongside Mark Lewis Jones, who starred in Baby Reindeer and Gangs of London, in a new series called Old Town Murders. The show is described as clever and full of unexpected turns.

The six-part drama features a pair of detectives, DI Glyn Walsh and DS Sion Dearden, who are both close to retirement.

Walsh unexpectedly returned to work soon after taking leave for a loss, and he quickly partnered with Dearden to investigate the murder of a university professor.

Instead of slowing down as they get older, detectives Walsh and Dearden revitalize their careers – and their lives – when they begin living together and investigate a string of murders in the coastal town of Tenby.

Now living and working together, the couple quickly finds their new arrangement complicated by a series of strange cases. These include the mysterious death of a headteacher during a swim, and a triathlon where someone is wrongly identified.

The BBC have noted the show is “a story of friendship, secrets and second chances”.

James Bamford, known for his role in The Red King, will play DC Neil Miller. Bethan Mary-James, from The Guest, joins the cast as DC Remy Jones, and Catherine Ayers, of Keeping Faith, will play Chief Superintendent Melanie Morris.

Julie Graham, known for her role in Shetland, will join the investigation as Pamela Thomas, a forensic biologist.

Filming for the show will take place throughout Wales, including locations like Tenby, Cardiff, and along the South Wales Coast. Production will be based in Bridgend.

According to Matthew Berry, the writer and executive producer, the new series, ‘Old Town Murders,’ isn’t just a crime show. It’s fundamentally a story about the power of friendship, starting over, and finding the bravery to make a fresh start at any age.

I had such a great experience collaborating with Mark and Steffan on ‘Men Up’ that I created this new series specifically for them. I’m really excited to see them, and all of our fantastic castmates, breathe life into these characters – I can’t wait!

Nick Andrews, commissioning head at BBC Cymru Wales, described “Old Town Murders” as a captivating mystery set against the beautiful backdrop of Wales, promising a story full of unexpected turns.

Matt Barry and the team at Quay Street consistently create compelling dramas, and we’re thrilled to be working with them on what promises to be another fantastic series.

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Old Town Murders is coming soon to the BBC.

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Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a TV journalist who covers a wide variety of shows, from popular reality series like Love Is Blind to science fiction hits like Fallout. She’s a highly qualified journalist, holding NCTJ Gold Standard accreditation, and has experience working as a Deputy TV Editor at both Digital Spy and Daily Express US.

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2026-04-02 18:04