Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth return

Filming begins in Wales this week on the second series of Death Valley starring Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth.

It follows the success of the first series which averaged  4.6 million viewers per episode in the first 28 days following release.

Made by BBC Studios’s comedy department, the show features Spall as retired  actor John Chapel and Keyworth as DS Janie Mallowan investigating crimes in rural Wales.

She said: ‘I’m so chuffed Janie and John get to bicker their way through some more deadly crime scenes. Thank you so much to everyone who watched and supported the show. I can’t wait to be back corpsing with Timothy and the gang for series two.’

The series – written and created by Paul Doolan –  also features Alexandria Riley, Steffan Rhodri, Melanie Walters and Rithvik Andugula as regular cast members.

Jon Petrie, the BBC’s director of comedy commissioning, said: ‘The trouble with recommissioning Death Valley is it means the crime rate in Wales is about to skyrocket again. But if that’s the price we pay for more brilliant performances from Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth, and more scripts from Paul Doolan, then so be it. Delighted to bring the team back for more murder and mischief.’

Josh Cole, head of comedy at BBC Studios, added: ‘While we would never usually encourage murder, in the case of Death Valley we’re honoured to make an exception. The first series was a record-breaking hit with audiences and Paul’s scripts for series two are even better. We can’t wait to get going.’

Series one was also the biggest comedy so far this year on BBC One Wales, averaging 400,000 viewers and on BritBox North America it was the second most watched show of the year so far.

Nick Andrews, head of commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales says: ‘Death Valley has such a distinctive look, tone and feel about it – all of which audiences have completely fallen in love with. The numbers in Wales have been huge! 

‘It’s lovely to see our neck of the woods providing both the bucolic backdrop and a cast of amazing characters who have the UK sitting on the edge of their seats week in week out. Amazing work from the very brightest and best.’

Published: 27 Aug 2025