Aside from our friends, hairdressers are often the people share the juiciest details of our lives with, which is why they'd make pretty good sleuths. And if you fancy seeing proof, the BBC is about to bring us some by way of its perfect new crime drama, The Hairdresser Mysteries. The upcoming series introduces us to hairdresser Lily Petal (Sally Phillips) who, as well as running her own salon, finds herself solving the mysteries of the small village she calls home.
Set in the 1970s, Lily has left the city’s competitive salon scene behind, choosing instead to buy a small village salon on a quaint cobbled street. So far, so peaceful. But it's not long before she's the person everyone in the town divulges their secrets to and so, she sets to work solving the mysteries she hears about while shampooing and snipping her clients’ hair. Nostalgic, original and endlessly entertaining, it's the best thing since the nation's beloved Midsomer Murders.
With The Hairdresser Mysteries set to arrive on our screens this summer, here’s everything you need to know about the series, including the cast, plot and release date.
What is The Hairdresser Mysteries about?
The six-part series takes us back to the 1970s and, according to the BBC, is infused with an upbeat 1970s spirit. At the centre of the drama is hairdresser Lily Petal (Sally Phillips) who, disillusioned with city life, opens up a salon in a small village. Soon, however, she finds herself at the heart of gossip and secrets, as clients share all manner of personal details with her.
The official synopsis continues: "Everyone tells their hairdresser everything and soon she becomes the hub of her new village’s secrets and revelations. Using her own brand of uncannily developed hairdressing intuition, empathy and understanding, Lily begins to solve the mysteries of the village."
Two of the show’s executive producers, Will Trotter and Oliver Kent, teased more about the drama, saying: "We are thrilled to be making The Hairdresser Mysteries and working with renowned writer, Jim Cartwright, who has created a joyful world packed with colourful characters. None more so than hairdresser Lily Petal and we are delighted to have much-loved actor Sally Phillips bring her to life."
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Another of the show’s producers, Herbert L Kloiber of Night Train Media and Eccho Rights, added: "We are delighted to bring The Hairdresser Mysteries to the international stage. The unique world that Jim Cartwright has created – modern but joyfully retro – and Sally Philips’ irresistible charm, create a fun drama that is both clever and comforting."
Who’s in the cast of The Hairdresser Mysteries?
The cast of The Hairdresser Mysteries includes:
- Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones's Diary) as Lily Petal
- Charlotte Jordan (Coronation Street) as Clary Coombs
- Ben Castle-Gibb (You) as PC Adam Watson
- Sunetra Sarker (Ackley Bridge) as Wincey Evans
- Clive Rowe (The Addams Family UK Tour) as Lonnie
- Guy Henry (Holby City) as Race Runard
- Wendi Peters (Doctors) as Gloria Crudd
How can I watch The Hairdresser Mysteries?
The Hairdresser Mysteries will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this July. As soon as we have an exact date, we'll update you here.
What other cosy crime dramas can I watch now?
If you want to see cosy crime at its finest, we'd recommend watching The Madame Blanc Mysteries, which is set in a French village and stars Sally Lindsay as antiques dealer turned investigator Jean White. You can catch up now on Channel 5 or Netflix. Another fantastic series is Ludwig, which introduces us to John “Ludwig” Taylor, a puzzle setter who ends up impersonating his missing police detective brother, James, in order to track him down. Anna Maxwell Martin also stars and she's utterly brilliant as James's wife. You can watch Ludwig now on BBC iPlayer.
