Including Lee Mack, Paul Whitehouse, Jason Manford and Sarah Hadland

Lee Mack, Paul Whitehouse, Jason Manford and Miranda's Sarah Hadland are among the guest stars on Gold’s next comedy murder-mystery, Murder, They Hope.

The broadcaster has today revealed casting details of the three-part series, starring Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson.

Shobna Gulati from Dinnerladies joins as a series regular as Gemma’s sister-in-law and local police officer, while the ensemble cast also includes Hannah Waddingham from Sex Education, Ghosts star Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Adrian Scarborough from Gavin and Stacey.

The Agatha Christie-inspired whodunit follows the success of Murder on the Blackpool Express, Death on the Tyne and Dial M for Middlesbrough, all written by comedian Jason Cook’ and starring Vegas and Gibson  as Terry and Gemma.

In this series, the characters decide to pack up their coach tour business and start as company as fully-fledged private detectives. However, the cases don’t come rolling in and the duo have to move in with Gemma’s sister Monica, played by Hadland.

The first case that hops into their laps comes via a local car boot sale, where a mysterious red eyed rabbit figurine causes a bidding war and attracts the attention of the dreaded Bunnyman. 

In episode two, the couple try to get the bottom of a poisoned pastry scandal involving two feuding baking families, and in the final instalment of the trilogy they are  lured back into the world of coach tours to  hunt for a bus-based serial killer.

Others appearing over the series include Layton Williams, Nitin Ganatra, Steve Edge, Janine Duvitski, Gemma Wardle, Ken Collard, Abdul Salis, Paul David, James Lance, Niall Ramsome, George Fouracres, Phil Cornwell, Richard David-Caine, Olivia Nakintu and Ethan Lawrence.

Murder They Hope will air on Gold in the spring.

Published: 5 Feb 2021