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Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC viewers left with same complaint after switching off new crime drama just minutes in
The BBC aired its "fun new crime spoof" series, starring Timothy Spall, for the first time on Sunday evening, but viewers were left unimpressed just minutes into the new show. BBC viewers were left disappointed after settling down to watch a brand new comedy show only to switch it off just moments later with many vocalising the same complaint. Death Valley kicked off on Sunday evening on May 25, starring Timothy Spall as reclusive actor John Chapel famed for his role as a TV detective. However, it transpires that he also has a talent for solving crimes in real life too. Despite his best efforts to live a peaceful and quiet life, he crosses paths with detective Janie Mallowan, played by Gwyneth Keyworth, who is investigating a mysterious death nearby. It turns out she's actually the actor's biggest fan and the pair find themselves becoming an unlikely duo as they pair up to solve crimes. The BBC programme, which was filmed entirely in Wales, features a glittering cast alongside Spall and Keyworth. It includes Gavin and Stacey star Steffan Rhodri, Alexandria Riley of Silo and The Pembrokeshire Murders fame, Sian Gibson known for her work on Peter Kay's Car Share plus additional writing from comedian and actor Sian Harries, the Express reports. However, despite the fun premise and the show's promising reviews, some viewers were left unimpressed and flocked to social media to share their initial thoughts. Despite The Guardian pitching the show as a "a fun new crime spoof for Ludwig fans," not everybody agreed. One viewer remarked: "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!" Another chimed in: "Five mins & switching off - this is AWFUL. So bad." A third viewer described the show as having "BBC1 weekday afternoon vibes to it." Another person who tuned in wrote: "Hmm ... Not hitting the spot yet" while a fifth complained: "Ten minutes unintelligible thanks." However, others had good things to say about the new programme with many hailing Timothy Spall's standout performance as the reclusive TV star, and others comparing it to other shows they had seen. One viewer gushed: "Love Timothy Spall". Another compared it to ITV drama, Professor T starring Ben Miller, as they remarked: "#DeathValley this is very much like #ProfessorT". Ahead of the show's debut on Sunday evening, creator Paul Doolan described where the inspiration for the show came from. He told the BBC: "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. "Then I thought 'what if they solve murders?', which is all really meta, and then started plotting it based around that." Death Valley airs Sundays at 8.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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
