We’re certified members of the Hannah Waddingham fan club and if, like us, you’ve already lapped up her most recent performance as Rebecca Welton in the new series premiere of Ted Lasso, we have something different to fill the void. In this whodunnit like no other, Murder, They Hope, she swaps football club ownership for crime-busting, in a guest-star role as a police detective. It’s an unmissable series that crime fans will love.
Imagine the daytime television show Coach Trip combined with a murder mystery and you’d arrive at this comforting comedy. The series follows Gemma (Sian Gibson) and Terry (Johnny Vegas) as they turn their backs on their coach business to become full-time sleuths. A star-studded array of guest stars joins them, including Waddingham and Sandi Toksvig, as they find themselves at the centre of some seriously entertaining cases.
Intrigued? With the series available to watch on U, here’s everything you need to know about Murder, They Hope, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Murder, They Hope about?
Following on from a string of films, the sitcom, which first aired in 2021, follows couple Gemma (Sian Gibson) and Terry (Johnny Vegas) who turn their back on their coach business to become private investigators. The only problem? They’re not very good at it.
The first series sees the detective duo in possession of a valuable collector’s piece, a rabbit figurine – and a murderous villain called ‘The Bunnyman’ will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. Later, they must get to the bottom of a poisoned pastry scandal between two rival baker families.
Hannah Waddingham wows in the series finale as Chief Inspector Henrietta Shephard, who’s on hand to help the team catch a serial killer. But, despite being a professional, she suffers with a severe case of cowardice and avoids danger at all costs.
The chaos continues in series 2, which first aired in 2022, as the couple go undercover at a therapy retreat, and later there’s a murder at their own wedding! Two feature-length specials follow on from the programme – Blood Actually documents Terry and Gemma’s Christmas getaway, which is taken over by a murderous frenzy. Apocalypse Slough sees Gemma achieving her dream of becoming an investigator at the Serious Crimes Agency (SCA) but what will Terry do when he’s turned down for the role?
Who’s in the cast of Murder, They Hope?
The cast of Murder, They Hope includes:
- Sian Gibson (Peter Kay’s Car Share) as Gemma
- Johnny Vegas (Benidorm) as Terry
- Sarah Hadland (Daddy Issues, Miranda) as Monica
- Lee Mack (Not Going Out) as Willy Watkins
- Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street) as Vicky
- Claire Skinner (The Trial) as Kerry
- Lee Charles (I Am Soldier) as Heavy 1
- Jason Cook (Hebburn) as Sgt. Dirk D. D./Prison Guard
- Sherrie Hewson (Benidorm) as Patricia
- Jason Manford (The Answer Run) as Freddie
- Stuart Whelan (Enola Holmes) as Court Security
- Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso, Winter Ridge, Partners in Crime) as Chief Inspector Henrietta Shephard
- Sandi Toksvig (QI) as Harry
Is Murder, They Hope any good?
Yes – it’s a truly fun take on the classic murder mystery format, and a perfect piece of light-hearted escapism. While Sian Gibson and Johnny Vegas are the perfect chaotic duo, Hannah Waddingham’s guest appearance stood out, as you’d expect: her portrayal of a danger-avoidant detective is nothing short of brilliant.
Is there a trailer for Murder, They Hope?
Yes – you can watch the full trailer for Murder, They Hope below.
How can I watch Murder, They Hope?
You can watch Murder, They Hope now on U and NowTV.
What other crime dramas can I watch now?
For a cosy crime that’s equally as comforting, we’d suggest Moonflower Murders, the sequel to the much-loved Magpie Murders, starring Lesley Manville as Susan Ryeland, a book-editor-turned-full-time-sleuth, who moves to Crete and embarks on a new sleuthing venture. Moonflower Murders is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. For another dose of escapism, try The Chelsea Detective. We follow Detective Inspector Max Arnold (Adrian Scarborough) as he cracks puzzling cases in the upmarket west London borough – and he’s a tad different to the wealthy residents he helps out. The Chelsea Detective is available to stream now on U.
