Latest news with #BBCDeathValley
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC Death Valley viewers switch off within minutes as they make same complaint
BBC Death Valley viewers switch off within minutes as they make same complaint The new comedy drama series began on Sunday night, but some viewers were left unimpressed Viewers who tuned in to watch the new comedy drama series on BBC were quick to switch off, with many expressing the same criticism. Death Valley, which premiered on Sunday night (May 25), stars Timothy Spall as John Chapel, a reclusive actor renowned for his role as a TV detective, who also has a talent for solving real-life crimes. Despite his attempts to lead a quiet life, he encounters detective Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth), who is investigating a mysterious death in the area. As it turns out, she's a huge fan of the actor, and the unlikely duo team up to solve crimes. The show, which was entirely filmed in Wales, boasts a star-studded cast alongside Spall and Keyworth, including Steffan Rhodri from Gavin and Stacey, Alexandria Riley of Silo and The Pembrokeshire Murders, Sian Gibson from Peter Kay's Car Share, and additional writing from comedian and actor Sian Harries. The series features a star-studded cast (Image: (Image: BBC) ) Despite the show's lighthearted premise and positive early reviews, some viewers were left underwhelmed and took to social media to share their initial thoughts, reports the Express. Article continues below While The Guardian described the show as "a fun new crime spoof for Ludwig fans," not everyone agreed. One viewer expressed their disappointment: "Just what I thought! It's too silly. The Guardian says people who love Ludwig will love Death Valley. NO! I LOVE Ludwig - this is absolute rubbish!" "Five mins and switching off - this is AWFUL. So bad," voiced one viewer, while another offered their take on the programme's quality with "BBC1 weekday afternoon vibes to it." Gwyneth Keyworth plays a detective in Death Valley (Image: (Image: BBC) ) Another viewer tuned in only to say, "Hmm ... Not hitting the spot yet." Meanwhile, someone else clearly unimpressed stated, "Ten minutes unintelligible thanks." However, not everyone was left feeling let down, as many praised Timothy Spall's exceptional portrayal of the elusive television personality. Comparisons with other series emerged too, with a fan saying, "Love Timothy Spall," and another drawing parallels to an ITV production: "#DeathValley this is very much like #ProfessorT," they wrote. Paul Doolan, the mind behind the series, opened up about the origins of the show ahead of its first episode. "I liked the idea of a TV actor who played a detective, and a fan of them, and the awkward relationship, but I couldn't really get beyond what else was funny about that," he revealed to the BBC. "Then I thought 'what if they solve murders?', which is all really meta, and then started plotting it based around that." Article continues below Death Valley airs Sundays at 8.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC Death Valley star on what's 'haunted her entire life' as health diagnosis help with new role
BBC Death Valley star on what's 'haunted her entire life' as health diagnosis help with new role Gwyneth Keyworth stars opposite Timothy Spall in BBC One's new drama, Death Valley, but the actress has opened up about her struggles with ADHD. Gwyneth Keyworth plays Janie, a Welsh detective with an obsession for old TV detective shows (Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Jay Brooks ) Being neurodivergent can be challenging, as actress Gwyneth Keyworth recently confessed, her condition can sometimes be difficult to manage and even admitted "that has haunted me my entire life." Whilst in a BAFTA Cymru Q&A session for her new BBC comedy crime drama Death Valley, the actress told the audience how there are some parallels between her and her character Janie when it comes to neurodiversity. Gwyneth, who has been diagnosed with ADHD said that she had struggled growing up with the condition. Her new series, follows her character Janie Mallowan, a Welsh detective sergeant who teams up with her favourite actor John Chapel, played by Timothy Spall, to solve crimes around the Welsh Valleys. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Gwyneth told the audience that she worked with the writer to reflect her own neurodiversity in her character after saying that her ADHD "has haunted me my entire life." She said: "I'm diagnosed ADHD, and when I was in school in a certain system it was really hard, but in real life there's always some real pros to it. "So, it was really about letting that be part of Janie, because she doesn't work the way everyone else works, but the way she does work - works for her." Article continues below She also added that despite struggling herself with the condition: "I think that's the lovely thing about how Janie's been written, is it is not a hindrance." Content cannot be displayed without consent Recently she also confessed that she wouldn't be able to take on a career as a detective. She admitted: "I'm definitely not built for detective work. I have , I can't keep track of anything!" The actress added: "Janie and I are both scatty. I am always losing stuff, but Janie is more direct than I am and a lot more blunt. I like her commitment to being good at her job and how she won't let anyone get in the way of it." Despite being her first leading role, Gwyneth has previously starred in numerous large scale projects. This includes another BBC series set in Wales, Lost Boys & Fairies, where she played the character Becky. She has also starred in Game of Thrones, Netflix's Black Mirror, The Crown and also Misfits. She also spoke of working with Timothy Spall and said that her co-star looked out for her on set. Gwyneth said: "He is the best and not only is he an amazing actor, but he is also a really nice and kind person. Article continues below "I learnt so much from him especially on how to approach leading a series. We became really good friends, and I always knew he had my back, he would say: 'take a minute, we've got this.'" Death Valley will air on Sunday, May 25 at 8.15pm on BBC One, however the whole boxset will be launching on BBC iPlayer at the same time.
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC Death Valley's full list of Welsh filming locations
BBC Death Valley's full list of Welsh filming locations When things are set in Wales we just can't help ourselves, we have to try and figure out where they are. So, here is a full list to ease your minds. You may recognise some of the locations used to film the new BBC series Death Valley BBC's Death Valley is the latest series filmed and set in Wales which will be popping up on our screens this weekend. This can only mean one thing, that at least 50% of the Welsh population will be cwtched up with a cuppa ready to watch the premier tonight, May 25 saying "hold on, that looks like Cardiff." Now, here at Wales Online, we are awfully thoughtful, and we thought wouldn't it be nice to save you the trouble of endless research trying to figure out where everything is set. From Cardiff to Bridgend, here is a full list of where Death Valley is set. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter At a BAFTA Cymru event ahead of the series' debut on May 25, Director of BBC Wales Rhuanedd Richards said that she was delighted that the comedy crime drama was set in her home town of Mountain Ash. However, despite being set in the Cynon Valley most of the series was filmed elsewhere across South Wales. Throughout the series there are a few locations which keep cropping up, this includes the cottage of John Chapel (Timothy Spall). The gorgeous cottage, which has beautiful stonework and flowers everywhere is located in St Hilary in the Vale of Glamorgan. The café used throughout the series, where Timothy Spall enjoys a good macchiato is actually in Penarth, in Brød Bakery, a Danish bakery chain which has shops across Cardiff. Article continues below Content cannot be displayed without consent A classic filming hack in Wales is using St Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life, for any sets that need to look a bit dated and that is what they did to film the old episodes of Caesar, the detective series starring John Chapel (aka Timothy Spall) within Death Valley. Although, the modern day police station where Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) and DCI Clarke (Steffan Rhodri) work was actually filmed in Mountain Ash Town Hall. During the first episode of the series we see a murder take place in the glamorous home of a property developer named Carwyn. Let's face it, if you are planning a storyline on the death of a property developer house, you need a nice house to film in. This house in question was actually in Duffryn in the Vale of Glamorgan. Later on in the episode, the building site was filmed in Abbey Woods, Cwmbran. The gorgeous house from episode one was located in the Vale of Glamorgan In the second episode, John and Janie join a walking group as they attempt to solve the murder of one of the members. The walking group are taking a hike through Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), right next to the beautiful Blaen y Glyn waterfalls. Gwyneth Keyworth even said that this was her favourite location to film. Throughout the episode we can see the group go in and out of the pub, for these scenes they used a combination of both the Kings Arms in Pentyrch, Cardiff and The Old Ford Inn in Llanhamlach, Brecon. Waterfall at Blaen-y-Glyn Waterfalls, by Dave Sealey (Image: Dave Sealey ) The third episode was filmed primarily in Llantwit Major, as the crime fighters investigate the death of a best man at a wedding. The church used was St Illtud's in Llantwit Major Episode four sees the pair investigate a murder in amateur dramatics group, who are filmed rehearsing at Penarth Conservative Club. This isn't the first time Penarth has been used as a filming location for the series and they also used Penarth Pier for the exterior shots of the theatre - you'll recognise that from a recent episode of Doctor Who. The 1929 Art Deco pier pavilion (Image: Jo Ridout, Media Wales ) Article continues below Later on in the series, we see the use of Insole Court in Cardiff as a stately home during a murder mystery in episode five and Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend for a school reunion in the last episode of the series. Death Valley will air on Sunday, May 25 at 8.15pm on BBC One, however the whole boxset will be launching on BBC iPlayer at the same time.
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC Death Valley's full cast list and where you've seen them before
BBC Death Valley's full cast list and where you've seen them before Is that Dave Coaches? Is that Peter Pettigrew? Is that the mam from Miranda? Find out as we detail where you've seen Timothy Spall and his recognisable co-stars from new comedy-drama Death Valley Alexandria Riley stars alongside leading lady Gwyneth Keyworth in the new BBC comedy crime drama If you constantly watch TV or movies with IMDB open ready to check what the actors have been in before, why do you know them, do they have a famous partner and so on. So, if you're anything like us, you may be sat watching the new BBC comedy crime drama, Death Valley, thinking to yourself 'what have I seen them in?' From Gavin and Stacey to Game of Thrones, this cast has been in almost everything you can think of. Although, if you can't think off the top of your head, here is a full cast list that may trigger your memory. The series focuses on a retired actor and a young detective who become an unlikely crime-fighting duo in the Welsh valleys. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Timothy Spall as John Chapel Timothy Spall plays the former TV detective John Chapel in Death Valley. (Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway ) Timothy Spall is a national treasure, and I know the term gets thrown around a lot lately, but honestly he has been in some of the most iconic TV programmes and movies. He will be playing John Chapel, a retired TV detective who moved to Wales and became a bit of a recluse. In the past he has starred as the artist JMW Turner in the film Mr Turner, he played Peter Taylor in The Damned United alongside Welsh actor Michael Sheen, and he was Peter Pettigrew/ Wormtail in the Harry Potter franchise. Article continues below With over 164 credits, he's also starred in Wicked Little Letters, the Alice in Wonderland franchise, The King's Speech and Still Crazy. Gwyneth Keyworth as Janie Mallowan Gwyneth Keyworth plays Janie, a Welsh detective with an obsession for old TV detective shows (Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Jay Brooks ) In Gwyneth's first leading role, she plays Janie Mallowan, a chaotic police detective who tries really hard to do a good job. She has a great sense of humour and a slight obsession with Timothy Spall's character. Recently, she has starred in another BBC series set in Wales, Lost Boys & Fairies, where she played the character Becky. She has also starred in the Doctor Who spin offs, The Sarah Jane Adventures and the Torchwood podcast series. She has also starred in Game of Thrones, Netflix's Black Mirror, The Crown and also Misfits. Steffan Rhodri as DCI Clarke Steffan Rhodri will be playing DCI Clarke (Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway ) Now, I think we can all recognise Steffan from something. The Swansea born actor also starred in the Harry Potter franchise as Reg Cattermole. He also has a long list of Welsh productions including The Pembrokeshire Murders, Submarine, Mr Burton, Keeping Faith, In My Skin and Men Up. Am I forgetting something? Oh and of course, he played Dave Gooch aka Dave Coaches in Gavin & Stacey. Alexandria Riley as Baxter Alexandria Riley will be playing Baxter (Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway ) Alexandria will be playing Baxter, a sarcastic pathologist who tells Janie like it is. Much like Steffan, Alexandria has appeared in a variety of Welsh programmes/films including Lost Boys & Fairies, Men Up, The Tuckers, In My Skin, The Pembrokeshire Murders as well as many Welsh language productions. Although, her work doesn't stop there as she has appeared in two different Netflix series, The End of the F***ing World and more recently the critically acclaimed Baby Reindeer. Rithvik Andugula as DC Evan Chaudhry Rithvik Andugula will be playing DC Evan Chaudhry (Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway ) Rithvick plays DC Evan Chaudhry, who is an eager to please junior police officer. He previously starred in the HULU series Extraordinary, which looks at a world where everybody has different types of superpowers. More recently he starred in the film O'Dessa, which stars Stranger Things star Sadie Sink. Melanie Walters as Yvonne, Janie's mother Joining Dave Coaches in Death Valley is his new lover Gwen. Melanie Walters will be playing a new Welsh mother, and this time it isn't Stacey. Melanie will be playing Janie's mother Yvonne, who has quite a big storyline in the second episode as the crime fighting duo join her walking group. Much like the above, Melanie has been in an assortment of Welsh productions including Save the Cinema, Submarine, La Cha Cha, Stella, Under Milk Wood and the film High Tide. Although, recently she has also known for her time on the TV series The Collection, The Bill, Doc Martin and Being Human. Mike Bubbins as Tony Mike Bubbins is known for his leading role in Mammoth, as Tony Mammoth. The series was also written by Paul Doolan, who is the writer of Death Valley. He also starred alongside Sally Phillips in the series Tourist Trap, where he played Wyn for 12 episodes. The mockumentary-style sitcom follows a newly opened agency, tasked with selling tourism in Wales to the world. Bubbins also co-founded the successful podcast, The Socially Distant Sports Bar. Remy Beasley as Rhiannon The young Welsh actress, has recently appeared in the TV mini series Nightsleeper, Netflix's One Day, Steeltown Murders and The Walk-In alongside Stephen Graham. She also played Gwen Davies in the National Theatre Live production of Nye alongside Michael Sheen who played the founder of the NHS Aneurin Bevan. Guest actors across the series will include Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Sian Gibson, Patricia Hodge, Jim Howick, Karl Johnson, Colin McFarlane, Vicki Pepperdine, Steve Speirs and Amy Trigg. The programme airs tonight, May 25 at 8.15pm on BBC One, however the whole boxset will be launching on BBC iPlayer at the same time. Article continues below
