Shetland fans, there’s a new must-watch crime drama in town in the form of The Last Detectives coming to the BBC. The BBC’s newest offering takes us to the seaside town of Tenby in Wales where DI Glyn Walsh (Mark Lewis Jones) and DS Sion Dearden (Steffan Rhodri) have their fair share of murder investigations to solve – and the beyond brilliant series could well rival the very best shows on TV.
The series is more than a crime drama: you see, Glyn and Sion are old friends and colleagues who should be on their last legs following various personal hardships, but instead, they find new purpose and hope as they work together to solve perplexing murders. And who's on hand to help them? Forensic biologist Pamela Thomas, played by This City is Ours icon Julie Graham (pictured above). If you ask us, it’s exactly the kind of crime drama we could all do with right now.
While we patiently wait for The Last Detectives to arrive on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the crime drama, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is The Last Detectives about?
The six-part drama stars Mark Lewis Jones and Steffan Rhodri as DI Glyn Walsh and DS Sion Dearden, old friends and professional partners who have faced their fair share of personal hardships. The pair find new purpose and hope, however, as they work together to solve murders in the seaside town of Tenby, West Wales.
When DI Glyn Walsh returns unexpectedly early from bereavement leave, he and DS Sion Dearden find themselves faced with solving the perplexing murder of a celebrated University Professor. The case is far from straightforward and the duo’s investigation leads them into the underbelly of the local University to track down the killer.
The BBC’s official synopsis continues: “Once the killer is found, there is no time to rest, as the pair are called to more murder mysteries across the area. From the poisoning of a local Head Teacher who inexplicably drowns whilst wild swimming, to a mystifying case of mistaken identity during a triathlon, the pair must navigate working and living under the same roof while solving a slew of baffling murder cases.”
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Each case will span two episodes and, according to the BBC, the pair’s instinctive understanding of one another proves invaluable as they navigate complex cases, unexpected twists and long-buried secrets lurking beneath the town's picturesque surface. The detectives are also joined by DC Remy Jones (Bethan Mary-James), DC Neil Miller (Jordan Davies) and forensic biologist Pamela Thomas (Julie Graham).
The series is written, created and executive produced by Welsh-born Matthew Barry, best known for The Guest, who told the BBC: “I’m beyond excited to be re- teaming with Quay Street and the BBC to bring The Last Detectives to the screen. It’s a story about finding friendship and meaning in later life, through the lens of a thrilling police procedural. I can’t wait for audiences to fall in love with Sion, Glyn and the stunning backdrop of Tenby.”
Davina Earl and Nicola Shindler from production company, Quay Street Productions. added: “[The Last Detectives] has everything we have come to expect from Matt’s brilliant writing, deeply relatable characters, his trademark wit and warmth plus engaging and inventive crime stories that draw you right in. Mark and Steffan are the perfect choice for DI Glyn Walsh and DS Sion Dearden, and we can’t wait to see how they bring this singular relationship to life on screen.”
Who’s in the cast of The Last Detectives?
The cast of The Last Detectives includes:
- Mark Lewis Jones (The Crown) as DI Glyn Walsh
- Steffan Rhodri (Keeping Faith) as DS Sion Dearden
- James Bamford (Masters of the Air) as DC Neil Miller
- Catherine Ayers (The Guest) as Chief Superintendent Melanie Morris
- Bethan Mary-James (Death Valley) as DC Remy Jones
- Julie Graham (This City is Ours, Time) as forensic biologist Pamela Thomas
How can I watch The Last Detectives?
The BBC hasn’t yet shared a release date for The Last Detectives, but we do know that filming for the series has taken place in Tenby, Cardiff and along the South Wales Coastline. As soon as we have a confirmed release date, we’ll update you here
What other detective dramas can I watch now?
If you’re a fan of Shetland or The Loch, we’d suggest giving The Island a go. The BBC drama revolves around Family Liaison Officer Kat Crichton (Sorcha Groundsell) who has a harrowing murder investigation on her hands – and it is, in our humble opinion, truly outstanding. You can watch The Island on BBC iPlayer. We’d also highly recommend Murder in a Small Town. The series introduces us to big-city detective Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland) who relocates to an idyllic harbour town where he hopes to find peace and finds no such thing. Murder in a Small Town is available to watch now on Netflix.
