If you’ve been on the lookout for some sun-soaked escapism and haven’t got any upcoming plans to escape the country, we’ve got just the cure for your holiday blues – and you don’t even need to leave the sofa. Move over Death In Paradise – we’ve got your next sunny sleuthing stint sorted with the exceptionally good detective drama Bad Monkey – and it’s so entertaining – it should be your watch for this weekend.
From Ted Lasso’s creators, the Apple TV series takes us to the tropical Florida Keys where we meet detective turned health inspector Andrew Yancy (Vince Vaughn), who’s desperate to get his badge back after being suspended form the force. As for his way back in? A mysterious severed arm pulled out the water by a tourist, which opens up a sprawling criminal conspiracy stretching into the Bahamas.
With the second series arriving soon, here’s everything you need to know about Bad Monkey, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Bad Monkey about?
Based on Carl Hiaasen’s bestselling novel, comedy-drama Bad Monkey follows Andrew Yancy (Vince Vaughn), a former Miami detective who has been suspended from the force, and winds up working as a health inspector in the Florida Keys. When a tourist discovers a severed arm while fishing, Yancy starts to unravel a deep-rooted conspiracy stretching from South Florida to the Bahamas.
One arm leads him into a deeper investigation, where he confronts the greed and corruption of land developers across the region. As for the titular monkey? That’s Driggs, and he belongs to Neville Stafford (Ronald Peet), a Bahamas resident fighting to stop a developer taking over family’s land.
After an explosive series finale, Yancy is returning to our screens for another 10-part mystery. This time, the series boasts a whole new storyline – after witnessing the murder of Florida’s finest fixer, he’s paired with a straight-laced forensic accountant to solve the case. However, Yancy soon finds himself in the middle of a turf war between rival criminal organisations.
Naturally, he meets an entourage of eclectic characters along the way, including: an intellectual mob boss, his crazy son and a tough young woman who needs his protection. Meanwhile, Yancy’s personal life isn’t any easier, he has an ageing father, an unresolved romantic tension with Dr. Rosa Campesino (Natalie Martinez) – who’s taking on an investigation of her own involving a mystery rash. One question remains: will Yancy regain his long sought after detective badge?
Who’s in the cast of Bad Monkey?
The cast of Bad Monkey includes:
- Vince Vaughn (Nonnas, Wedding Crashers) as Andrew Yancy
- L. Scott Caldwell (The Fugitive) as Ya-Ya
- Rob Delaney (Catastrophe) as Christopher/Nick Stripling
- Meredith Hagner (Search Party) as Eve Stripling
- Natalie Martinez (La Promesa del Retorno) as Dr Rosa Campesino
- Alex Moffat (Saturday Night Live, Holiday) as Evan Shook
- Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) as Bonnie Witt
- Ronald Peet (First Reformed) as Neville Stafford
- Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim) as the Dragon Queen/Gracie
- John Ortiz (Fast & Furious) as Rogelio Burton
- Zach Braff (Scrubs) as Israel ‘Izzy’ O’Peele
- Charlotte Lawrence as Caitlin
The new cast of Bad Monkey series 2 includes:
- John Malkovich (Con Air)
- Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale, Dexter)
- Zavior Phillips (Read the Room)
- Nate Jackson (The Paper)
- Sofia Boutella (Rebel Moon)
- Brent Morin (Merry Happy Whatever)
- Joey Avery
- Dax Shepard (Parenthood)
- Sam Jaeger (Parenthood)
- Margarita Levieva (Spread)
- Peter Billingsley (Couples Retreat)
- June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie)
Is Bad Monkey any good?
Yes –its sun-soaked Florida and Caribbean settings, eccentric suspects and endlessly entertaining mysteries make Bad Monkey the perfect dose of escapist crime television. Vince Vaughn is hugely charming as the witty, stubborn Yancy who you can’t help but root for – especially after finding out the real reason behind his suspension! Death In Paradise fans will be drawn to the gorgeous backdrop and unusual investigations, but there’s a darker edge to the humour, with the writers calling out the very real issue of overdevelopment leading to environmental degradation in the region.
Is there a trailer for Bad Monkey?
While we await a trailer for series two of Bad Monkey, you can get a flavour of the action in the trailer for series 1.
How can I watch Bad Monkey?
You can stream the entire first series Bad Monkey now on Apple TV, and series 2 will premiere on the streaming platform on Wednesday 2 December 2026.
What other crime dramas can I watch now?
For a cosy crime drama closer to home, try The Chelsea Detective. We follow Detective Inspector Max Arnold (Adrian Scarborough), who’s a tad different from the wealthy residents he helps out, as he cracks puzzling cases in the upmarket west London borough. The Chelsea Detective is available to stream now on U. For a grittier watch, we’d recommend BBC’s stylish gangster drama This City Is Ours. Starring Julie Graham, the action-packed drama takes us to Liverpool where we meet a prolific gang family, torn apart by an internal war. This City Is Ours is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
