A group of rising surrealist artists walk into a sprawling estate and get caught up in a puzzling murder plot. There’s no punch line, it’s just the set-up of a genius new murder mystery series that's coming to our screens imminently. Set in the flamboyant 1930s, the Agatha Christie-esque series is mere days away from its UK premiere - and it's set to be a whodunnit for the ages.
The drama, of which the title is a nod to Magritte’s The Treachery of Images painting featuring a pipe and the words “Ceci n'est pas une pipe (This is not a pipe)”, follows the young artists on the brink of stardom as they attend a private exhibition at an estate in 1936 England. But what starts off as a normal social event turns into chaos as Magritte (Pierre Gervais) wakes up next to a murdered young woman with no memory of the previous night.
Ahead of the whodunnit's arrival on our screens, here's everything you need to know about This is Not a Murder Mystery, including the plot, cast, and release date.
What is This is Not a Murder Mystery about?
Set in the Golden Age of surrealist art, the six-part series follows young René Magritte (Pierre Gervais), who's invited to join a host of other artists at a private art exhibition in a grand estate owned by the gaudy Lord James (Aoibhinn McGinnity). Among the guests are Salvador Dalí (Iñaki Mur), Lee Miller (Florence Hall), Man Ray (Frank Bourke) and Max Ernst (Mike Hoffman) into the cosy series.
After the young artists enjoy a wild night, Magritte wakes up to find a young woman murdered next to him - and he has no idea what happened the previous night. The murderer, it seems, isn't done yet as more bodies begin to fall, leading Scotland Yard to lock down the estate. The question is - can Magritte clear his name while working out who among the guests is hiding the real secret?
Who’s in the cast of This is Not a Murder Mystery?
The cast of This is Not a Murder Mystery includes:
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- Pierre Gervais (High Tides, Into the Night)as René Magritte
- Mathilde Warnier (The Widow, A Very Secret Service) as Georgette Magritte
- Iñaki Mur (We Were the Lucky Ones, Merlí)as Salvador Dalí
- Regina Bikkinina (Into the Night) Gala Dalí
- Florence Hall (The Princess Switch 3, Bank of Dave) as Lee Miller
- Frank Bourke (His Dark Materials, The Winter King) as Man Ray
- Mike Hoffman (The Privilege) as Max Ernst
- Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks, Ballykissangel) as DCI Thistlethwaite
- Donna Banya (War of the Worlds, Breathtaking) as DC Quant
- Aoibhinn McGinnity (Quarry, Vikings: Valhalla) as Lord James
- Jonathan Delaney Tynan (Ripper Street, The Tudors) as Archie Jukes
- Lauren Versnick (Red Light) as Sheila Legge
- Oscar Högström (FOMO) as Nash
- Geert Van Rampelberg (The Broken Circle Breakdown) as ELT Mesens
Is This is Not a Murder Mystery any good?
Yes, especially if you’re a fan of art! In a clever twist, the series pays homage to the artists by incorporating their artwork into the twisted murders, which makes it both visually striking and slightly bonkers. When it first aired in Belgium last year, it received its fair share of praise, with viewers calling it a “pleasant surprise” and “literally a work of art”.
Is there a trailer for This is Not a Murder Mystery?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for This is Not a Murder Mystery below:
How can I watch This is Not a Murder Mystery?
There's not long to wait - This is Not a Murder Mystery is available to watch on U&Drama at 8pm on Wednesday 29th April.
What other good whodunnits can I watch now?
If you enjoy a whodunnit with a comedic edge, we'd recommend Ludwig. The series follows John "Ludwig" Taylor, whose twin brother James disappears. And what better way to find your twin than by taking on his identity? Ludwig is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. For something a little darker, we'd suggest Stephen Graham's Bodies, which will take you on quite the journey as the same dead body crops up across multiple time periods: in 1890, 1941, 2023 and 2053. Bodies is available to watch now on Netflix.
