Death Valley, the record-breaking crime drama starring British acting legend and Harry Potter star Timothy Spall, has officially been renewed for a second season. It’s been a good year for the BBC’s crime comedy department. Death Valley‘s pilot episode broke the viewership record previously set by fellow cozy crime drama Ludwig, earning the largest overnight audience for a new scripted show in five years.
Death Valley follows retired actor John Chapel (Spall) and eager-to-befriend Detective Sergeant Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth), as John uses his acting skills and creative understanding of humanity to help DS Mallowan solve the Welsh countryside’s most baffling murder cases.
Following a successful six-episode first-season run, both the BBC and BritBox (where it’s the second most-watched show of the year so far) have confirmed that the odd-couple investigative duo will return for a second season and that filming has officially begun on location in Wales. Spall was “delighted that the show [had] been received so well,” while Keyworth was “chuffed Janie and John get to bicker their way through more deadly crime scenes.”
What This Means For Death Valley Season 2
While details for Death Valley season 2 are still being kept tightly under wraps, comments made by creator, writer, and executive producer Paula Doolan may shed some light on what’s next for this charming, quarreling detective team.
“I’m very excited for viewers to see where the next series takes them as we pit them against an array of cunning murderers and, more often than not, against each other,” Doolan told the BBC in a press release about the show’s renewal.
One of the highlights of Death Valley is undoubtedly the strangely disarming comedic chemistry between Spall’s John and Keyworth’s Janie. Their constant bickering gives the show an edge. They’re rarely in agreement, and yet they always come to the same conclusion. It’s fun to unravel these murder cases with them, and Doolan’s highlighting their dynamic in connection with season 2 bodes well for the show.
Our Take On Death Valley Season 2
Somehow, despite an arguable overabundance of cozy British crime dramas, including shows like Ludwig, Death in Paradise, The Marlow Murder Club, Father Brown, and more, Death Valley has still managed to stand out from the crowd. This is in part thanks to its setting, as tragically, very few breakout shows are set in and around Wales, providing a compelling, fresh, and beautiful backdrop for this outlandish detective team.
Spall’s considerable experience and talent shine through in this role, and the nods to his character’s acting history are genuinely funny and memorable. That, combined with Keyworth’s considerable charm and exuberant energy, makes Death Valley one of the breeziest and most chuckle-worthy new crime comedies the BBC has produced in a while. Death Valley season 2 will surely be a treat.
Death Valley
- Release Date
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May 25, 2025
- Network
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BBC One
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Timothy Spall
John Chapel
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Gwyneth Keyworth
Janie Mallowan
