Monday 10th July 2017
Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson are among the cast of Gold's brand new feature length UKTV Original Murder On The Blackpool Express (1x90'), which has started filming on location today for an autumn TX and is produced by Tiger Aspect in association with Shiny Button Productions.
Vegas (Benidorm) plays Terry in this new comedic spin on the classic Agatha Christie whodunits, a Blackpool coach driver who, along with tour guide Gemma (Sian Gibson, Car Share) is caught up in a deadly conspiracy when the trip's passengers start mysteriously dying one by one.
Also starring are Nigel Havers (Little Britain), Una Stubbs (Sherlock), Griff Rhys Jones (Not the Nine o'Clock News), Nina Wadia (Goodness Gracious Me), Sheila Reid (Benidorm), Kevin Eldon (Big Train), Mark Heap (Green Wing), Kimberley Nixon (Fresh Meat), Katy Cavanagh (Coronation Street), Matthew Cottle (Citizen Khan), Susie Blake (Mrs Brown's Boys) and Javone Prince (Inside No. 9).
With everyone a suspect and a potential next victim, can Terry and Gemma keep the group together, address their burgeoning attraction for each other, fend off the police, and make it to Blackpool Tower with their lives intact?
Johnny Vegas said,
If the script read through is anything to go by this is not only going to be immense fun to film, but a real treat for comedy lovers and whodunnits alike. Brilliant casting and laugh out loud writing, what's not to be excited about?
Sian Gibson said,
I'm so excited to be involved in a murder mystery! The script is very funny and it's such a pleasure to be working with Johnny and such a wonderful cast. Can't wait.
Jason Cook said,
It's been such a joy to work on this show. From the beginning we were just after a show that had big laughs and a lot of heart and I think we've managed to pull it off. And the cast we have managed to get for this is beyond my wildest dreams. Each of them could star in their own show so we've been truly lucky to assemble such a team of comedy royalty.
Murder On The Blackpool Express is written by Jason Cook (Hebburn), directed by Simon Delaney (Cold Feet, Stella, Lead Balloon), produced by Jim Poyser (Shameless) and executive produced by Andy Brereton for Shiny Button. It was ordered by Gold general manager Steve North and UKTV director of commissioning Richard Watsham, while Hilary Rosen and Pete Thornton are co-executive producers for UKTV.
Murder On The Blackpool Express follows other UKTV Originals for Gold in 2017; We Have Been Watching, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais' new sitcom Henry IX and a pair of exclusive retrospectives, David Jason: My Life on Screen and The Story of Only Fools and Horses. Murder On The Blackpool Express comes exclusively to Gold later this year.
For press requests please contact UKTV Publicity Manager, Gem Pinkney.
About Gold
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With more successful original commissions than ever before, the likes of Marley's Ghosts, Comic Strip Presents...Red Top and The Rebel sit comfortably alongside Britain's much-loved series such as Only Fools & Horses, Mrs Brown's Boys and Miranda. Famed for its retrospective hits, Gold has enjoyed successes with Bring Me Morecambe and Wise, The Two Ronnies Spectacle, The Interviews and most recently, Richard E. Grant on Ealing Comedies.
Gold continues to attract the finest comedy talent in Britain, with the live broadcast of the final ever performance of Monty Python Live (mostly): One Down Five To Go in 2014 becoming its most successful ever programme. And, Henry IX, the brand new series from legendary writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, premiered exclusively on Gold.
Rarely-seen cult favourites such as Bridget and Eamon, Limmy's Show and Gareth Marenghi's Darkplace make up Gold After Dark every weekend, offering the very best in offbeat humour.
Still committed to universally loved comedy 25 years after first making the nation laugh, here's to many more.
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About UKTV
UKTV is the biggest multichannel broadcaster in the UK. The award-winning independent has eleven imaginative brands - UKTV Play, Dave, W, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food. These include the two most popular non-PSB channels in the UK and account for nearly 10% of the British commercial TV market. The company's most recent financial results showed record-breaking year-end revenue of £319m and EBITDA of £82m. It invested £148m in programming and related launches last year, and is becoming an increasingly significant investor in UK creativity. UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC, alongside programmes originally shown on ITV and Channel 4. The network embraces technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat, Amazon Fire and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories. Now celebrating over 20 years at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) - is proud to be the only British television broadcaster in The Sunday Times top 100 companies list.