We’ve all seen the "brooding detective in a raincoat" trope a thousand times. You know the one—he’s got a dark past, a drinking problem, and a personality as dry as a week-old scone. But the BBC is finally pivoting. Their newest commission, Old Town Murders, brings together two of Wales’ most reliable heavy hitters, Mark Lewis Jones and Steffan Rhodri, and it’s trading the usual misery-porn for something far more interesting: wit and actual human connection.
Honestly, it’s about time. Mark Lewis Jones (who you’ve seen in everything from Baby Reindeer to The Crown) and Steffan Rhodri (Steeltown Murders, Gavin & Stacey) are essentially the gold standard of Welsh acting. Putting them together in a six-part series set in the postcard-perfect town of Tenby isn't just good casting. It’s a statement.
Beyond the Usual Gritty Procedural
Most crime dramas feel like they’re trying to win an award for "Most Depressing Landscape." Old Town Murders looks to be heading in the opposite direction. Written and executive produced by Matthew Barry—the mind behind the excellent Men Up—the show focuses on DI Glyn Walsh (Jones) and DS Sion Dearden (Rhodri).
They aren't just partners; they’re old friends who've been chewed up and spat out by life. Walsh is returning early from bereavement leave, while Dearden is navigating his own set of personal hardships. Instead of wallowing, the show uses their shared struggle to ground the mystery. It’s about second chances and finding purpose when you’re "on your last legs."
The setting helps, too. Tenby is gorgeous, but as any local knows, the tourist-heavy "Old Town" has its own secrets. The series kicks off with the murder of a university professor, leading the duo into the academic underbelly of West Wales. From there, the cases get weirder. We’re talking about a headteacher who is poisoned and then drowns while wild swimming, and a bizarre case of mistaken identity during a triathlon. It sounds a bit like Midsomer Murders met Broadchurch and decided to have a sense of humor.
A Cast That Actually Fits the Landscape
It’s easy to parachute a big-name London actor into a Welsh setting and hope the accent holds up. It rarely does. That’s why this production feels authentic. It’s a co-commission with BBC Cymru Wales and produced by Quay Street Productions, a team that knows the terrain.
The supporting cast is just as solid:
- James Bamford (Masters of the Air) as DC Neil Miller.
- Bethan Mary-James as DC Remy Jones.
- Catherine Ayers as Chief Superintendent Melanie Morris.
- Julie Graham as forensic biologist Pamela Thomas.
There’s a specific chemistry that happens when you get actors who have worked together before—Jones and Rhodri were both in Men Up—and Matthew Barry explicitly wrote these roles for them. That kind of tailored writing usually results in dialogue that feels lived-in rather than scripted.
Living Together While Working Together
The real hook isn't just the murders. It’s the domestic friction. Walsh and Dearden end up living under the same roof while trying to catch killers. If you’ve ever lived with a co-worker, you know that’s a recipe for either a lifelong bond or a homicide of its own.
This setup allows the show to explore "reinvention later in life." It’s rare to see a crime show where the leads are allowed to be vulnerable, funny, and aging without being caricatures. It’s about two men trying to figure out who they are when the world thinks they’re past their prime.
What This Means for Welsh TV
Wales is currently having a massive moment in the global TV market. Between the success of The Way and the upcoming supernatural thriller The Witch Farm (also just announced for the BBC), the industry in Cardiff and beyond is booming. Old Town Murders isn't just another show; it’s part of a push to create "distinctive, must-see dramas" that aren't just made in Wales, but are of Wales.
Filming has already started in Tenby, Cardiff, and along the South Wales coastline. While we’ll have to wait until 2027 to see the finished product on BBC One and iPlayer, the pedigree behind the camera suggests it’ll be worth the lag.
If you're tired of the same old "dead body in a forest" routine, keep an eye on this one. It’s promising something we rarely get in the genre: heart.
To stay ahead of the curve, you might want to:
- Rewatch Men Up on iPlayer to see the Jones/Rhodri/Barry chemistry in action.
- Follow Quay Street Productions for behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Tenby shoot.
- Look out for The Witch Farm, the other new BBC Wales commission, if you prefer your mysteries with a side of ghosts.
