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Johnny Vegas is coming to BBC Two as one half of the crime-fighting duo in the comedy series Murder, They Hope.
The comedian takes on the role of Terry Bremmer and is joined by partner Gemma Draper, played by Sian Gibson, as they give up on their coach business and become private investigators.
A host of well-known faces also pop up in the series, as the hapless pair attempt to solve a collection of crimes with limited success involving a bitter baking feud and a bus-based serial killer.
The series, written by Jason Cook and which originally aired on Gold in 2021, is a follow-up to three one-off whodunit spoofs Murder on the Blackpool Express, Death on the Tyne and finally the 2019 Dial M for Middlesbrough.
After the pair’s tour bus blew up in Dial M for Middlesbrough, the couple have now set up their own private detective agency.
Who is in the Murder, They Hope cast?
Johnny Vegas
The 53-year-old comedian from Lancashire is famed for his surreal comedy and has enjoyed success in stand-up, acting, writing and directing.
He was a regular panellist on Shooting Stars, 8 Out of 10 Cats and QI and played Geoff Maltby in the ITV series Benidorm. He stars in Murder, They Wrote as Terry Bremmer.
Sian Gibson
The Welsh actor rose to fame in the sitcom Peter Kay’s Car Share in which she played the passenger and supermarket employee Kayleigh Kitson enjoying a lift to and from work with Kay’s character John Redmond.
She was also in the prequels to Murder, They Hope – Murder on the Blackpool Express, Death on the Tyne and Dial M for Middlesbrough. She co-stars in Murder, They Hope as Gemma Draper.
Sarah Hadland
The 52-year-old is best known for her role as Stevie Sutton, Miranda Hart’s best friend in the sitcom Miranda.
She has also appeared in Horrible Histories on CBBC and BBC drama Waterloo Road as English teacher Linda Radleigh. She plays Monica, Gemma’s spotlight stealing sister in this series.
Shobna Gulati
Gulati first came to prominence in the Victoria Wood comedy series Dinnerladies, in which she played Ania.
She has also appeared in both Eastenders and Coronation Street. She plays Vicky, a police officer and Gemma’s sister-in law in Murder, They Hope.
A roster of guests also appear including:
Nitin Ganatra (Eastenders)
Janine Duvitski (Benidorm)
Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey)
Paul Whitehouse (The Fast Show, Harry Enfield & Chums, Mortimer& Whitehouse: Gone Fishing)
Jason Manford (8 Out Of 10 Cats, The One Show, Unbeatable)
Lee Mack (Not Going Out, Would I Lie To You?)
Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso)
Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts)
Layton Williams (Bad Education)
Steve Edge (Benidorm)
Where is Murder, They Hope filmed?
Murder, They Hope moved south after the coach business which Terry and Gemma ran was razed to the ground and they were forced to move in with Gemma’s sister Monica.
Filming has taken place in the Hertforshire city of St Albans.
Crew were spotted making some of the episodes in the George Street and Romeland Hill areas of the city.
How many episodes are there?
There are three episodes in the first series of Murder, They Hope with the initial one airing on BBC Two at 9pm on Thursday 25 April. The second and third episodes will be shown on successive Thursdays.
It will also be available on iPlayer.
Fans wanting to watch the prequels – Murder on the Blackpool Express, Death on the Tyne and Dial M for Middlesbrough – can also catch them on the BBC iPlayer.
