John Boyne: ‘In my fantasy final week, I'm 93, have published my memoirs and recounting seven decades of scandals before retiring for pints'
When I published my debut novel in 2000, literary festivals were pretty thin on the ground. In fact, I didn't participate in any until my third book, Crippen, was published, when I read from it at the Harrogate Festival, in the same hotel where Agatha Christie hid during her mysterious 1926 disappearance.
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Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Irish Times
Death Valley review: Timothy Spall effortlessly commands the screen but this BBC drama struggles
When did we decide we preferred our television detectives sunny-side up rather than served in the traditional hard-boiled fashion? At whatever point it happened, we nowadays live, beyond all hope of escape, in a cosy crime purgatory, where murder is a green light for jolly japes, and the only good cop is a whimsical one. Cosy crime isn't new. It extends back to Agatha Christie in the 1920s and even to Wilkie Collins in the 19th century. But goodness, is it having a moment now – whether manifesting as cosy crime in the sun (Death in Paradise), cosy crime marinated in the cheesy values of 1980s US television (Poker Face) or cosy crime in upper-west-side Manhattan (Only Murders in the Building). Alas, like a killer driven to ever more desperate extremes in the hope of attracting attention, the genre has lately arrived at the 'trying-too-hard' stage of its cycle, as evidenced by the distractingly offbeat Death Valley ( BBC One, Sunday) – a capricious caper that cannot make up its mind whether to celebrate the tropes of the milieu or poke fun at them. [ The Last of Us finale review: A nerve-shredding, bloody conclusion that leaves us wanting more, and soon Opens in new window ] The setting of small-town Wales is in the classic British tradition of dramedies taking place off the beaten track (see also: Shetland, Vera, Midsommar Murder or, in ancient times, Wicklow-set Ballykissangel). It stars veteran Timothy Spall as a reclusive actor once famous for playing a television detective (one gathers his character was a cross between Taggart and Bergerac). He's content in his solitude, with only his cat for the company – until a local bigwig seemingly shoots himself, and the police are called in. READ MORE Timothy Spall (left) plays John Chapel, with Gwyneth Keyworth as Janie Mallowan in Death Valley. Photograph: BBC/BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway Spall earned his reputation with gritty character parts in unsentimental State of the Nation films such as Secrets and Lies by Mike Leigh (who would go on to cast him as the painter JMW Turner in a 2014 biopic). However, it is whimsy all the way in Death Valley, where his character, John Chapel, quickly joins forces with local police officer Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth). They're an odd pairing though you wonder how much of this is on purpose and how much has to do with the baffling decision to make Janie a devoted dispenser of gags. She's forever firing off pithy observations and commenting on life around her, whether or not anyone else has asked her to upend the contents of her brain all over their conversation. Her backstory contains its share of loss, and her outré personality is presumably a coping mechanism – unfortunately, Death Valley doesn't make any of this feel plausible. For instance, in an early scene where she and John meet in a coffee shop to compare notes, she explains that she's reading an online piece about 'washed-up celebs and what they look like today'. She reveals that John is mentioned. But when he inquires further, she says she's only joking. Well, that's going to bring him around to her side, isn't it? The actual mystery is solid. The dead businessman, Carwyn Rees, did not, in fact, take his own life. He was done in by people close to him amid murky dealings in his building development company and an illicit affair (or three) on the side. Here, Death Valley holds up – in so far as you can understand the motives of the perpetrators and the means by which the ghastly deed was carried out. That sets it apart from popular rivals such as Death in Paradise, where the big reveal about that week's murder invariably raises more questions than it answers. The problem is ultimately one of tone. Death Valley wants to be flighty as anything and also have the crunchy qualities of a solid sleuth fest. It is well-intentioned and thoughtfully plotted while Spall effortlessly commands the screen as a fading luvvy who just so happens to be a top-rank crime buster in real life. But some things simply don't go well together. Now we know that this category includes off-beam humour and dark deeds in small-town Wales. The six-part series is on BBC One on Sundays from 8.15pm
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Irish Independent
John Boyne: ‘In my fantasy final week, I'm 93, have published my memoirs and recounting seven decades of scandals before retiring for pints'
When I published my debut novel in 2000, literary festivals were pretty thin on the ground. In fact, I didn't participate in any until my third book, Crippen, was published, when I read from it at the Harrogate Festival, in the same hotel where Agatha Christie hid during her mysterious 1926 disappearance.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Future of Bergerac reboot confirmed after controversial character sex swap & record ratings
DAMIEN MOLONY will be back for more as Detective Jim Bergerac as UKTV have confirmed the remake of the hit 1980s drama is set to return for a second series next year. It follows the success of the recent launch of 2 Damien Molony will be back as Detective Jim Bergerac as the remake of the hit drama is set for a second series Credit: Joe Pepler/PinPep 2 Actor John Nettles in the original Bergerac Credit: Rex A record number of 1.8million people tuned in for each episode, just shy of the numbers' Samantha Bond and Cara Horgan's drama series The Marlow Murder Club drew in for its launch in March. 'My predecessor had solved six crimes in the time it's taken for me to solve one, so I have a bit of catching up to do. I can't wait to see what case we crack next .' The actor, who took over the role from READ MORE IN TV In the original series, the role was played by Terence Alexander and Charlie was This time Charlie is his mother-in-law. MAGICIAN Cheer Re Mans will be among the next acts as Britain's Got Talent returns. Most read in News TV Jannick Holste, John Pierce, Lil M's, Olly Pearson, Will Burns and Stacey Leadbeatter are also competing for a place in the grand final, on ITV this Saturday at 7pm. BAFTA WIN FOR MR BATES ITV will receive Bafta's Special Award for drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. Bergerac viewers blast reboot and rage 'I'm not ready for a hearing aid yet' over character's 'whispering' - but did you spot it? The four-parter, which was the channel's most-watched series in 2024 with 15million viewers, was praised for helping wrongly jailed sub-postmasters win justice. Bafta chair Hilary Rosen said: 'This shows the power of television to change hearts and minds. 'This Special Award honours the social and public impact television can have. As Mr Bates Vs The Post Office has proved, audiences want and need to hear these important British stories.' The series will also go up against One Day, Baby Reindeer, Lost Boys and Fairies in the Best Limited Drama category, with stars News For You? He follows Stephen's episode will air at 9pm on May 16. AGATHA REBORN THE BBC has used AI to bring Agatha Christie back to life to help aspiring writers. Using restored interviews with the novelist, her private letters and other works, the Beeb's learning platform BBC Maestro has created the special course to guide students through the art of suspense, plot twists, and characters. Then, using AI-enhanced technology, tech whizzes have collaborated with an actress and visual effect artists to recreate Agatha Christie's presence and voice. James Prichard, Agatha Christie's great-grandson said: 'Through this course, you truly will receive a lesson in crafting a masterful mystery, in Agatha's very own words.' You can sign up to the £79 course at
