BAFTA-Winning ‘Sixth Commandment’ Star Timothy Spall Leading BBC Comedy-Drama ‘Death Valley’

Max Goldbart

19 May 2024 at 7:01 pm·1-min read

Fresh off his latest BAFTA win for The Sixth Commandment, Timothy Spall’s next project has been revealed.

The Harry Potter star is leading Death Valley with Welsh actress Gwyneth Keyworth (Black Mirror) for the BBC.

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Written and created by Paul Doolan (Mammoth) and set in Wales, Death Valley follows the unlikely crime-solving partnership between eccentric national treasure John Chapel (Spall), a retired actor and star of hit fictional detective TV show Caesar, and disarming detective sergeant Janie Mallowan (Keyworth). Thrown together by the murder of John’s neighbor, John and Janie are an odd, yet hilarious duo with opposing instincts, and each week they get to the bottom of gripping murders.

“I’m really looking forward to teaming up with the brilliant Gwyneth Keyworth and the fantastically talented team of creatives and technicians on this new and unique comedy drama,” said Spall.

BBC Studios is producing and distributing, and filming will begin next month.

Spall beat the likes of Brian Cox to win his first BAFTA last weekend in the Leading Actor category for factual drama The Sixth Commandment, in which he played a university lecturer who was manipulated and eventually murdered by his former student and lodger. He had been nominated five other times over the past 25 years.

Death Valley is directed by Simon Hynd and produced by Nikki Wilson, and EPs are are Doolan, Josh Cole and Madeline Addy. BBC Studios will distribute internationally. Additional funding support has been provided by Creative Wales, the Welsh Government agency that supports the growth of the Creative Sectors.

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