Latest news with #JohnChapel
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
ROLAND WHITE reviews last night's TV: It's split opinion, but this delightful whodunnit deserves a second series
Death Valley (BBC1) The final episode of the first series of Death Valley opened at a school reunion. 'It's so hard juggling the aromatherapy with being a mumfluencer,' moaned Rhiannon Hopkins to her former classmate. I can't have been the only viewer hoping Rhiannon would come to a sticky end. Perhaps not ending up as the actual corpse, but definitely getting locked away for a very long time. Mumfluencer indeed. Just the word should carry a five-year term. In the end, it was a mechanic called Dean who was battered to death in the boiler room with a spanner, which at least was another Cluedo weapon ticked off for pathologist Helen Baxter. 'God,' she sighed. 'I'd love a lead pipe killing — that's the hard one.' Death Valley has divided opinion. To call it quirky would be an understatement. Interviewing Dean's wife, DS Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) complained: 'It's quite hard to get what you're saying — maybe you could try speaking between sobs.' If you take your whodunnits very seriously, this is not for you. It's basically a delightfully gentle comedy with a bit of violent death thrown in. But it's cleverly written, with plenty of well-judged sad bits as contrast. And the characters have depth and back stories. The star turn is Timothy Spall. He plays retired actor John Chapel, who is best known for playing TV detective Charles Caesar. In the first episode, he helped Janie solve the murder of a property developer, and she's been his sidekick ever since. They bicker like an old married couple. If Chapel were 30 years younger, this would end in a romance that would probably be revealed in a tear-jerking Christmas special. As it is, one of the mysteries about widower Chapel is his love life. There is obviously somebody, but who? This was revealed right at the end. I won't ruin the surprise for catch-up viewers, but the result was more bickering between Chapel and Janie (named Jane, by the way, after Miss Marple and Mallowan after Agatha Christie's second husband). A lot of loose ends were tied up in last night's episode. Janie finally made it up with her boss, DCI Clarke, a worryguts whose main fear is that he's not up to the job. Played by Steffan Rhodri, he is just one of an excellent supporting cast. He told her that she's been promoted to inspector, and Chapel had been recruited as an official consultant. Oh, and the mysterious suicide of Janie's best friend, Sian, a constant theme through the series, was finally cleared up. You know what this means, don't you? The decks are now clear for a second series. Perhaps we might even get that Christmas special. Pathologist Helen might even get her perfect corpse — coshed by somebody called Colonel Mustard with a candlestick in the conservatory.
Wales Online
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The stunning Welsh waterfall you can swim under that appears in BBC's Death Valley
The stunning Welsh waterfall you can swim under that appears in BBC's Death Valley It's not a coincidence that the new BBC comedy crime drama used the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog as the backdrop of their second episode. (Image: BBC/ Death Valley ) We all know how beautiful Wales can be, and we're lucky to have some of the most gorgeous scenery in the world on our doorstep. Now, the beauty of our country is gracing the screens of the nation once again, through BBC's new comedy crime drama, Death Valley. It follows Detective Janie Mallowan, played by Gwyneth Keyworth and former TV detective John Chapel, played by Timothy Spall as they form an unlikely crime fighting duo in the Cynon Valley. Despite being set in Mountain Ash, the series was actually filmed across South Wales. You may be watching the second episode of the series, and thinking to yourself, "the scenery is beautiful, where was this filmed?" For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . During the 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, when they discover a body at the bottom of the falls. The waterfalls are used as the scene of the crime. (Image: BBC/ Death Valley ) Gwyneth Keyworth even said that this was her favourite location to film, and can we blame her? The waterfall itself can be found within Talybont Forest in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. To reach the falls you can walk from the National Park's two car parks, Blaen y Glyn Isaf is the lower car park and Blaen y Glyn Uchaf is the upper car park. Each walk has a different grade of difficulty described by Natural Resources Wales. Lower Blaen y Glyn Waterfall Walk is described as moderate, as it is 0.8 miles (1.2 kilometres) long there and back and should take roughly 45 minutes. This trail is not waymarked, although they recommend reading t he information panel in the car park for the suggested route. Upper Blaen y Glyn Waterfall Walk on the other hand is described as being strenuous, with a one mile (1.6 kilometres) walk there and back, which should take roughly 1-1.5 hours. This trail is also not waymarked, but again, there's the information panel in the car park with a suggested route. Waterfall at Blaen-y-Glyn Waterfalls, by Dave Sealey (Image: Dave Sealey ) After, what could be a strenuous walk you could also take a dip in the series of waterfalls, as most of them even have small pools at the base. However if you're not one for a full plunge in what very well will be some cold water, there are also plenty of rock platforms to sit on beside the water. It's recommended you go when the weather is warm/dry, as the walk is slightly more difficult when it is raining and you'll be more likely to enjoy a cold plunge after your walk. Timothy Spall plays the lead, John Chapel a former TV detective (Image: BBC/ Death Valley ) If you would like to plan a day out with the family, there are also picnic benches in each car park, which means that you can really make a day of it with the family. So, pack up some cucumber sandwiches and a couple of scotch eggs and take a trip down Bannau Brycheiniog. Article continues below Alternatively, if you're not one for a picnic, you could always get some pub grub nearby. Including The Old Ford Inn in Llanhamlach, which is also used as a filming location in the episode and just 20 minute drive away from the waterfalls.
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC One's new comedy Death Valley gets a hammering on X
BBC One's new comedy Death Valley gets a hammering on X Harsh viewers described the new comedy drama set in Wales as amateur, terminally dreadful and a "waste of Timothy Spall's talent" Timothy Spall as John Chapel and Gwyneth Keyworth as Janie Mallowan (Image: BBC ) It was widely anticipated and looked forward to but the new BBC One Wales Sunday night drama Death Valley has had an absolute pummelling on social media platform X. Viewers berated it as "amateur" and "badly scripted" and "terminally dreadful". Some people wondered how "absolute tosh" like this got a primetime slot. Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth star in the brand new comedy crime drama about a retired actor and a "disarming young detective" fighting crime in the Welsh valleys. In its blurb the BBC said they'd make the perfect crime-fighting duo - if only they could get along. Viewers were left unimpressed and didn't seem to think the pair were perfect for anything. After tonight's first episode some branded the drama "rubbish" and "dreadful" and "absolute tripe" - and those were the kinder people. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Content cannot be displayed without consent Tom Watson writing as @Watson950 said:"If you think #MidsomerMurders is awful, the @BBC 's new #DeathValley is terminally dreadful. Ham acting, implausible script and a waste of Timothy Spall's talent." @JoyClifty1 had this to say about the acting: "Oh dear this was horrendous- the woman playing a policewoman is dreadful!!". Article continues below Content cannot be displayed without consent Some others were more complimentary. Sharon Pritchard posted on X "We were chuckling away. On to the next episode on BBC IPlayer. Cracking Sunday night viewing! @gordonbennet230 wrote: "Really enjoying Death Valley on BBC 1 #DeathValley". The six parter series also features Welsh actors Steffan Rhodri as wholesome DCI Barry Clarke and Melanie Walters who plays Janie's mum Yvonne. Sian Gibson from Peter Kay's Car Share, Alexandria Riley of Silo and The Pembrokeshire Murders also appear as does English actress Patricia Hodge who appears as Helena. The whole series was shot in Wales with Spall portraying John Chapel, the favourite TV character of Det Sgt Janie Mallowen who idolises him since his TV show Caesar helped her through dark times. Content cannot be displayed without consent Writer, Paul Doolan was reported as saying he liked the idea of a TV actor who played a detective, and a fan of them, and the awkward relationship between them. One of the tensions is he's English, she's Welsh too. The series was shot in locations including Insole Court in Cardiff, Penarth and the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Article continues below Content cannot be displayed without consent But not all viewers were so critical. It was also described . Our review Inigo Jones had this to say about it - "it's lovely, funny and Welsh. What's not to love?" You can read her review here. Death Valley airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sundays at 20:15 and the entire boxset is on iplayer.
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
Death Valley's Timothy Spall's 'pain and horror' over health scare
Death Valley's Timothy Spall's 'pain and horror' over health scare The award-winning actor said his leukaemia diagnosis was 'a shock' Timothy Spall stars as John Chapel in the new BBC comedy crime dram Death Valley Actor and BAFTA winner, Timothy Spall has shared his harrowing experience of facing leukaemia, revealing there was a point where he feared he "might not make it". The 68-year-old will star in BBC's new comedy crime drama, Death Valley, where he plays retired TV detective John Chapel. The esteemed actor, is celebrated for his decades of work on TV and film, notably his roles as Barry in '80s classic Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter series as well as his performance in the 2014 film Mr Turner. After receiving a diagnosis of the life limiting condition, he described the prospect of leaving his family as "unbearable". In an intimate discussion with Saga Magazine, Spall recounted the moment he received his leukaemia diagnosis in 1996, and the ensuing "horror" at the thought of dying and its impact on his family. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . He said: "I was 39 and we had three kids, and out of the blue I was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease called acute myeloid leukaemia. When I was told I had it, I got down on my knees and asked God to spare me for my family." Timothy continued, reflecting on the darkest times: "There was a time when they thought I might not make it. The only really unbearable thing was what my family would do if I went? I wouldn't be there to look after them, and that was my job as a husband and father." The English actor is happily married to writer Shane Spall and is the proud father of three children: Rafe, Pascale, and Mercedes. Article continues below Spall delved deeper into his emotional turmoil: "The pain and the horror of what me dying would do to the people I loved was the only unbearable side of it. The rest I could take. "One day, between treatments, the doctors had done tests and they thought I'd relapsed. A massive mushroom-type thing had grown in my lung. I was about to go and have full body radiation and a bone marrow transplant knowing there were things in my body that'd potentially kill me. That morning, I woke up and thought, sod this, I'm not going to die." When discussing his relationship with his wife of 44 years, he said that the pair were inseparable and practically joined at the hip. He explained: "We got married four months after we met. I think there is a lot to be said for marrying someone you don't know. I was just in love with her. She is also my best mate." Timothy and his wife, also share a love for Wales. His new venture, Death Valley, was filmed and is set in South Wales which the actor called "extremely beautiful." He said: "I have worked in Wales a couple of times, and my wife and I also went all along the coast on our boat. I know every port along the way, so I've spent a bit of time there, the coast is so beautiful." Timothy continued: "Cardiff is a lovely, very friendly, and welcoming place. We were based in Cardiff, but you are half an hour away from the most exquisite countryside." Article continues below The leading actor, who plays TV detective John Chapel, even calls it "god's country" at one point in 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.
