Murder on the Blackpool Express
{{Infobox television
| writer = Jason Cook
| director = Simon Delaney
| starring = Johnny Vegas
Sian Gibson
Sheila Reid
Una Stubbs
Katy Cavanagh
Nina Wadia
Kimberley Nixon
Nigel Havers
Griff Rhys Jones
Susie Blake
Kevin Eldon
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| producer = Jim Poyser
| runtime = 91 minutes
| network =
| released = {{Start date|2017|11|11|df=yes}}
}}
Murder on the Blackpool Express is a 2017 comedy drama television film created by Jason Cook. Starring Johnny Vegas, Sian Gibson, Sheila Reid, Una Stubbs (in her final role), Griff Rhys Jones, Nina Wadia, Nigel Havers, Kimberley Nixon and Kevin Eldon.{{Cite web |title=Murder On The Blackpool Express – Gold Comedy |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/murder_on_the_blackpool_express/ |website=British Comedy Guide}}{{Cite web |date=10 July 2017 |title=Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson star in Murder On The Blackpool Express |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/2690/murder_on_blackpool_express/ |publisher=British Comedy Guide}}{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Sophie |date=10 July 2017 |title=Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson to star in new murder mystery comedy show |url=http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/826753/Johnny-Vegas-Sian-Gibson-new-comedy-Murder-On-The-Blackpool-Express}}
Broadcast in 2017, it became Gold's highest-rated show at the time, later rebroadcast on BBC Two.{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Anita |date=12 July 2023 |title=A funny comedy film? Well that's something you don't often see on the BBC |work=Telegraph.co.uk |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/07/12/murder-on-the-blackpool-express-review-johnny-vegas/ |access-date=31 July 2023}}
Synopsis
Old-age pensioners and mystery novel fans are on a budget bus tour to visit all the murder locations in a novel series, led by the books' author. Members of the tour start turning up dead and the police initially discount the deaths as accidents, leaving the tour guests to fend for themselves.{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Jonathan |last2=O'Connell |first2=Sharon |last3=Gibbings-Jones |first3=Mark |last4=Harris |first4=Sophie |last5=Catterall |first5=Ali |last6=Arnold |first6=Ben |last7=Mueller |first7=Andrew |last8=Howlett |first8=Paul |date=11 November 2017 |title=Saturday’s best TV: I Know Who You Are; Murder on the Blackpool Express |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/nov/11/saturdays-best-tv-i-know-who-you-are-on-the-blackpool-express |access-date=31 July 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=Murder On The Blackpool Express : Reviews 2017 |language=en |work=chortle.co.uk |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2017/11/11/38399/murder_on_the_blackpool_express |access-date=31 July 2023}} The title is a parody of Murder on the Orient Express.{{Cite web |last=Steve |date=27 July 2022 |title=Review: MURDER ON THE BLACKPOOL EXPRESS (2017). |url=https://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=80468 |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=mysteryfile}}
Cast
- Johnny Vegas as Terry
- Sian Gibson as Gemma Draper
- Una Stubbs as Peggy
- Sheila Reid as Mildred
- Kimberley Nixon as Laura Bishop
- Nina Wadia as Moira Colliston
- Nigel Havers as Doc
- Kevin Eldon as Kevin
- Mark Heap as Graham
- Katy Cavanagh as Grace
- Matthew Cottle as George
- Javone Prince as Ben
- Griff Rhys Jones as David
- Susie Blake as Marge Grimshaw
- Jason Cook as Arcade Attendant
- Layla Cook as Young Laura Bishop
- Catherine Harvey as Mary
- Steve Brody as Barry
- Peter Singh as PC Collins
- Chris Anderson as Medic 1
- Chris Ramsey as Medic 2
Production
Locations include "Bartleby Cathedral" (Ascot Priory), a stately home "Clesperley Manor" (Stoke Court),Pioneer (GB), Pioneer House, Hollybush Hill, Stoke Poges a scenic country park with a cliff: Castle Rock,{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Jason |author-link=Jason Cook (comedian) |title=Murder On The Blackpool Express, Gold |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/banijay/murder-on-the-blackpool-express-gold/5123834.article |access-date=30 July 2023 |website=Broadcast now .co.uk |publisher=Media Business Insight Limited |language=en}} Nether Alderley, Alderley Edge, United Kingdom and Blackpool: tower, ballroom, seafront.
Episode Guide
{{Episode table |background=#3743D0 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |airdateR={{cite web |title=MurderTheyHope |url=https:|website=bbc|accessdate=11 May 2021}} |viewers= |country=UK |episodes={{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Death on the Tyne
|DirectedBy = Ed Bye
|WrittenBy = Jason Cook
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|12|15|df=yes}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3743D0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = Dial M for Middlesbrough
|DirectedBy = Ed Bye
|WrittenBy = Jason Cook
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|12|14|df=yes}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3743D0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = The Bunny Trap
|DirectedBy = Ed Bye
|WrittenBy = Jason Cook
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|05|08|df=yes}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3743D0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = Evil Under the Bun
|DirectedBy = Adam Jenkins
|WrittenBy = Jason Cook
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|05|15|df=yes}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3743D0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|Title = Dales of the Unexpected
|DirectedBy = Ed Bye
|WrittenBy = Jason Cook
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|05|22|df=yes}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3743D0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|Title = Can’t See Blood for the Trees
|DirectedBy = Sarmad Mashud
|WrittenBy = Jason Cook
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|10|24|df=yes}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3743D0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|Title = A Midsummer Night’s Scream
|DirectedBy = Ed Bye
|WrittenBy = Jason Cook
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|10|25|df=yes}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3743D0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|Title = The Unusual Suspects
|DirectedBy = Ed Bye
|WrittenBy = Jason Cook
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|10|26|df=yes}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3743D0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|Title = Blood Actually
|DirectedBy = Ed Bye
|WrittenBy = Jason Cook
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|12|16|df=yes}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3743D0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 11
|Title = Apocalypse Slough
|DirectedBy = Ed Bye
|WrittenBy = Jason Cook
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|09|26|df=yes}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 3743D0
}}
}}
Sequels and spin-offs
{{anchor|Death on the Tyne}}{{anchor|Dial M For Middlesbrough}}In December 2018, a sequel, Death on the Tyne (a spoof of another Hercule Poirot story by Agatha Christie, 'Death on the Nile'), aired on Gold, followed by a third film titled Dial M for Middlesbrough (a play on Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder) the following year.
{{anchor|Murder They Hope}}In May 2021, Murder They Hope (this time parodying the series Murder She Wrote), a three-part follow-up series, aired on Gold as well.{{Cite web |title=Murder, They Hope - Gold Comedy
|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/murder-they-hope/ |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}} Lee Mack appeared in the last episode as the character Willy Watkins.
{{anchor|Murder They Hope 2}}Its success prompted the airing of a second series, Murder They Hope Too with Mack reprising his role as Watkins.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Caren |date=18 October 2022 |title=Murder They Hope season 2: release date, cast, plot and all we know |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/murder-they-hope-season-2-release-date-cast-plot-and-all-we-know |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=what to watch .com |language=en}}
{{anchor|Blood Actually}}A 2023 Christmas Special Blood Actually guest starred Martin Kemp, Peter Davison and Robert Webb.{{Cite web |year=2023 |title=Murder, They Hope Blood Actually: A 'Murder, They Hope' Mystery |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/murder-they-hope/episodes/2023/1/ |website=British Comedy Guide}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
Category:2017 television films
Category:2017 comedy-drama films
Category:2010s serial killer films
Category:British serial killer films
Category:British comedy-drama television films
Category:2010s English-language films
Category:Films about vacationing