Welsh Actors Lead New BBC Crime Series
Welsh actors Mark Lewis Jones and Steffan Rhodri are set to star in a "witty, twisty" crime series, collaborating to solve murders in a picturesque seaside town.
Old Town Murders, which also features Julie Graham from This City is Ours, is a six-part fictional series that follows DI Glyn Walsh, portrayed by Jones, and DS Sion Dearden, played by Rhodri.
Series Themes and Creation
The series delves into themes of finding meaning, purpose, and hope later in life through friendship and crime-solving.
It is written and created by Matthew Barry, known for Men Up and The Guest, who commented on the project:
"After working together on Men Up, I wrote this series for Mark and Steffan and I can't wait for them, alongside the rest of our incredible cast, to bring these characters to life."
Plot Overview
The narrative centers on two detectives discovering a new beginning after being brought together by circumstance.
Jones and Rhodri portray old friends and partners who, despite facing personal hardships and being seemingly on their last legs, find renewed purpose and hope as they collaborate to solve murders in the idyllic seaside town of Tenby.
When DI Glyn Walsh returns unexpectedly early from bereavement leave, he teams up with DS Sion Dearden to investigate the perplexing murder of a respected university professor.
The case leads them into a complex investigation of the local university's underbelly as they seek to identify the killer.
After apprehending the murderer, their work continues with no respite, as they are called to address additional murder mysteries across the region.
These include the poisoning of a local head teacher who mysteriously drowns while wild swimming, and a puzzling case of mistaken identity during a triathlon. Throughout these challenges, the pair must manage living and working under the same roof while solving a series of baffling murder cases.
Supporting Cast and Production
The series also stars Catherine Ayers, James Bamford, and Bethan Mary-James.
Welsh-born writer and executive producer Matthew Barry emphasized the series’ deeper themes:
"Old Town Murders is more than a crime drama; at its heart, it's about friendship, reinvention and the courage to begin again later in life."
Filming has commenced in Tenby, Cardiff, and along the south Wales coastline.
Broadcast and Representation
The drama will be broadcast on BBC One and available on . It forms part of the BBC’s initiative to tell "authentic Welsh stories," contributing to a broader effort to enhance representation across the UK.
