Death Valley's Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth discuss their unlikely crime solving duo, a wish-list guest cast, and exploring Wales in series two

Death Valley starring Emmy and BAFTA winning actor Timothy Spall and RTS Cymru award winning actor Gwyneth Keyworth returns to BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BritBox.

Our unlikely crime solving duo make a welcome return as retired actor John Chapel and disarming Welsh detective Janie Mallowan, alongside regular cast Alexandria Riley (Helen Baxter), Steffan Rhodri (DCI Barry Clarke), Melanie Walters (Yvonne Mallowan) and Rithvik Andugula (DC Evan Chaudhry).

Janie has been newly promoted to Detective Inspector and is busier than ever, with paperwork stacking up quicker than she can clear it. To make matters worse, she’s been ignoring John since finding out he’s been dating her mum. Janie’s hand is forced after a murder in a Community Payback group when DCI Barry Clarke forces her to bring John Chapel in as the department's consultant.

Series two sees John reluctantly re-enter the world of acting, on the set of an epic Welsh fantasy TV series, when the pair are called to investigate a murder. Will this foray into his old thespian passion ignite something once forgotten in John? One thing is certain, whether investigating a murder in a coastal fishing village, a sustainable commune or the competitive world of rugby, John and Janie will continue to bring justice to the mid-Wales region.

Death Valley returns on Sunday 17 May at 8pm on BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BritBox.

Watch the first series on BBC iPlayer now.

GJ

Meet the cast and creatives

Timothy Spall (John Chapel and Inspector Charles ‘Caesar’)

Were you pleased with the audience reaction to the first series?

You never know how something will be received, so I was delighted with the enthusiastic and very positive response. This is one of the reasons why I do what I do, to make something you hope is going to entertain and give value for money, after all people pay for their TV Licence and you want to give them the best you possibly can. As I get older that becomes more and more important to me.

How does it feel to be back for a second series?

I’ve been a little more involved with the development for series two, so it’s been excellent working with creator/writer Paul Doolan, making suggestions for John’s character and the relationship development between Janie and John.

I hope we’ve moved the story on and remained consistent; Paul has really excelled himself with the diverse and interesting cases in series two and there are some ambitious stories with a gallery of fascinating original characters taken on by excellent new guest artists.

Where do we find your character John at the start of the new series? 

He’s slightly estranged from Janie because of the fallout from being exposed as secretly working with her on the cases, which was seriously frowned upon by DCI Clarke (Steffan Rhodri). John also reveals he’s in a relationship with Yvonne (Melanie Walters) Janie’s mum, which doesn’t go down at all well with Janie. She feels he’s been ‘a snake’ for going behind her back, however, it instigates an opportunity to further explore the mix of criticism and affection they have for each other.

Romance is on the cards for John, tell us more about that?  

It opens up an emotional story for John; there’s a journey there – he thinks the relationship he’s in with Yvonne is heading towards a long-term one, but it abruptly takes a very different course. This also effects John and Janie’s relationship as they pair up for a new case, it affords a lot of comedy but also highlights John’ habit of self-dramatisation. I love that side of John, his indulgences, which are a mixture of his sophistication, conceits, and vulnerability.

What can audiences expect from the dynamic between John and Janie in series two?

They have this unusual partnership where they are often both dismissive of each other’s work but also reliant on it and both, somewhat reluctantly, appreciate each other’s skills. They also get on each other’s nerves but secretly rather enjoy it. Bizarrely this strange mixture invariably ends in success, they often find themselves in this situation throughout the series, it’s something they can’t get out of, but when it is threatened – they oddly both protect it. 

A key aspect of Death Valley is the age gap difference between John and Janie, which makes for an unlikely crime solving duo, tell us more about that?  

I’ve always thought it’s more like a sibling, rather than a father daughter relationship and John never plays the wise old man card. Interestingly in episode four we meet Janie’s father (Owen Teale), which leads to an interesting dynamic between Janie and John. It opens a friendship for John, he’s lonely for intellectual stimulation and discourse. It also explores Janie’s unresolved relationship with her estranged father. We see how that storyline amplifies the friendship between John and Janie – it makes for an interesting and complex episode.

What aspects of John’s character do you enjoy most?  

The mixture of John’s cleverness, his conceit, and his ability to know ultimately when he’s wrong even though it’s often with reluctance. It’s also the mix of confidence and sensitivity that he has, and Janie gets it. Janie often points out those characteristics to John. They complain but they appreciate each other’s honest opinion of each other. Emotionally they have complete recognition of each other’s souls, they’re very different people but they have a deep affinity with each other. They’re kindred spirits. They would never admit that though.  

There’s a crime a week and an array of guest artists joining the series again, what does that bring to the series? 

We’ve got some wonderful guest artists for the new series. It was great to work with them; some I’d already worked with and splendid actors I hadn’t worked with before. It brings a new energy and as there’s a new crime a week and a new location, it keeps it fresh - a bit like being in a theatre repertory company that constantly changes its programme. It’s challenging because it’s a fresh start each time and each episode has its own tone and flavour, from a fishing village to a rugby club, to a wonderful ancient castle location - each one brings its own atmosphere and community. 

How difficult is it to get the blend of comedy and crime just right?  

It’s generated out of the character and situations rather than gags, which is best as its more organic. It grows out of the eccentricity and contradictions of human behaviour, what people are like, how they deal with things; and John and Janie are both eccentric characters, but hopefully believable humans too. They’re very good at what they do, but also very good at pointing out each other’s faults while complimenting each other with a mixture of friendly criticism and emotional support – although they’d never admit that. It’s also very unusual having that sibling like relationship between a younger woman and older man on screen.

What can audiences look forward to in series two and what do you think the appeal of the series is?  

I hope Death Valley is a rich box of confectionary with a different flavour for each episode. Each episode has its own distinct look and feel, there’s a new crime to solve each week informed by the setting and community. Each episode has its own compact story, and we’re introduced to a plethora of characters that are interesting, funny, and believable and it brings in a whole collection of roles for excellent character actors. We’ve got a really fine cast on this series.

What do you think makes Death Valley different from other comedy crime dramas?

Well, you have the comedy, the drama of the whodunit plus the emotional relationship between the characters and this has to keep in equal balance for each episode. I think our creator/writer Paul Doolan’s determination and ability to do that seamlessly and consistently makes it special. 

What I also like about the series is there’s a lightness to it, but there is a sophistication too in terms of how people behave, what motivates them to do what they do and within that process John and Janie are learning about themselves and each other. 

Do you have any favourite episodes from the series? 

I enjoyed filming all of them because they all have a slightly different atmosphere and look and our Director of Photography Richard Stoddard really amplified that. Each episode is informed by where its set and you’re introduced to a whole new world for John and Janie to explore and crime solve.

In episode three we’re solving a crime on the set of a big-budget Welsh, “Game of Thrones” style drama, so John finds himself back on familiar territory. It’s like a show within a show, Janie much to her surprise and delight finds herself forming a friendship with the young female star of the show and John is feeling very at home only to be undermined and humiliated by a former acting friend, so it’s a wonderful emotional journey for both John and Janie.  

Also the final episode set in a rugby club; it has this wonderful mixture of the emotional and funny and a gripping murder. As a piece of classic whodunit comedy drama, it’s really effective. 

Will we see more or Alan the cat in the new series?

Alan turns up, he’s John’s mate! John displaces a lot of things he can’t deal with on Alan, which also adds a comedic quality.

What would be your top tip be for surviving or solving a small-town murder?

Don’t get involved, leave it to the professionals! 

Gwyneth Keyworth (Detective Janie Mallowan)

How does it feel to be back for a second series and were you pleased with how audiences reacted to the first series?

It's such a privilege to come back for a second series. You’re never sure how something is going to go down with audiences, so the fact there was such a positive response, and people seemed to take to Janie and John so well, felt really special and something I'm incredibly proud of.

I'm very excited to be back for a second series. I’ve recently been performing in theatre and the amount of people I’ve met at the stage door who love John and Janie, has been so heartwarming to hear.

Where do we find Janie at the start of the new series?

Janie has stepped up professionally, but it hasn't been the dreamy transition she’d hoped for and she’s struggling a bit under the pressure. There’s a sense that she's trying to prove that she deserves to be where she is, even if she doesn't like to admit that out loud.

How has Janie’s relationship with John developed since we last met her? 

They know each other better now so there’s more trust, but I'd say there's also more friction because of that. As the series develops there's an extra tension added into the mix when Janie meets her biological dad and that throws a curveball into their relationship in unexpected ways. Also, at the end of the series one, we found out John is in a relationship with Janie’s mum Yvonne (Melanie Walters), much to Janie’s absolute disgust, so we pick that up again in the first episode. Janie is not handling it well, she feels some boundaries have been crossed.

This series we’re introduced to Janie’s estranged father, tell us more about that and how it impacts Janie?

In episode four, there’s a murder at an alternative commune and Janie is very cagey about visiting the place from the get-go and we’re not sure why. It turns out it's somewhere her estranged father, played by Owen Teale, frequents and their first meeting is one of my favourite scenes from the series. It includes DC Chaudhry (Rithvik Andugula) and it’s just a perfect comedy moment. But it’s also loaded with all the emotional stuff and Janie wants to run away.

Janie doesn't have a relationship with her father, he's a sort of vagabond poet, a ‘rolling stone’ kind of character and he goes against everything Janie believes a good father should be. We see John trying to encourage a relationship between Janie and her dad, which she’s apprehensive about, but we see something develop that is sweet and hopeful. It’s tough for Janie and it’s a big emotional arc in the new series; it also puts John and Janie’s relationship under pressure.

Janie’s sharp wit and eccentricity are fan favourites, what new sides of her do we see this series?

We still see Janie’s wit and eccentricity, but we also see a more vulnerable side. The humour is still there but we start to see cracks in the façade. We realise a lot of her quick wittedness is a defensive tool and we start to see that chipped away a bit. We see somebody who's much more human and fearful, but also hopeful.

Janie’s distinct fashion style was also a big hit with fans, can we expect more of the same and do you have any input in what Janie wears?

Hayley Nabauer our Costume Designer has absolutely smashed it this series. I think it's incredible to work with somebody who's so passionate about fashion and nearly all of Janie’s costumes are sourced second-hand or are vintage pieces. It’s a collaborative process but Hayley leads it in an exciting way, and it shows that you can dress really well by buying from vintage or second-hand shops.

The series is filmed and set in Wales and includes use of the Welsh language how important is that to you and what does it bring to the series?

It’s so important, I think it gives a specificity and authenticity to the show that I feel is an accurate representation of Wales today. It's complex and it's beautiful, the landscape, the language, and the rhythm of it all feel incredibly authentic and still full of all the humour that we know and love.

The age gap difference between John and Janie make them an unlikely crime solving duo, tell me more about that dynamic?

I think it's brilliant! They come from completely different perspectives, and they bring a different approach to the way they work and interact which creates tension; but it’s also balanced because neither of them would be able to solve the case without each other. In their friendship they test each other's limitations and help each other grow and I think it’s what makes the dynamic between them interesting and heartfelt.

Do you have a favourite episodes or scenes from the new series?

There are some beautiful scenes between John and Janie towards the end of the series, which are more character led and about their relationship, which I'm excited for audiences to see, and because I just love filming with Tim, it’s such a treat and he is just the best.

The scene where Janie first sees her dad on the commune with Chaudhry (Rithvik Andugula) is one of the funniest and there’s also a scene at a rugby club where Janie attempts to kick a rugby ball. I’ve seen a clip and I might have to hang my head in shame - I’ve got an uncle who played international rugby, I may have let the family name down!

There’s a crime a week and an array of guest artists joining you again, what does that bring to the series?

I was bowled over by the amount of talent joining us this series. I mean we come out strong - Jane Horrocks is in episode one and I’m such a huge fan! It was so amazing to have such a great list of actors who want to be part of our show, and it adds to the humour and to the depth of the show.

What can audiences expect from Janie in the new series?

We’ve developed her character and you see there’s an authenticity there and we see where her defensiveness comes from. Janie works at a slightly different rhythm to everyone else, she’s not repetitive, it keeps it fun and she’s always discovering new things about herself. She’s not your classic detective but she's real and authentic.

How difficult is it to get the balance of comedy and crime in the series?

I think what Death Valley does really well is it disarms you with its unpretentiousness and the humour always comes from the relationships with the characters. The crime a week keeps it compelling and keeps audiences hooked, because who doesn’t love solving a crime mystery. Paul Doolan is such a brilliant writer and the whole team are so invested in making Death Valley perfect Sunday night telly!

Do you have a favourite filming location and why?

I loved the rugby club episode because for me there’s something so nostalgic about rugby clubs. I’d go at Christmas, for school discos and my parents met in a rugby club, so they mean a lot to me and my family and they’re such an iconic Welsh cultural tradition. In episode one we filmed at Raglan Castle and I hadn’t been before, I absolutely loved it; I’m such a history buff so whenever I wasn’t filming, I’d be going around the castle researching the history.

In episode two there’s a murder in a seaside town and we filmed in Abertonnau, which is so beautiful and picturesque, and I grew up in a seaside town, so I loved filming there. In the final episode, there’s a murder in the police station, we had such a great combination of actors on set for that episode, so I can’t wait for viewers to watch, in terms of humour it really packs a punch.

Paul Doolan – Creator/Writer/Exec Producer

Death Valley broke records on its launch, what do you think it is that appealed to audiences?

I think there was a certain appeal to having a crime show that wasn't unremittingly bleak. We'd always hoped committing to a show with warmth, that worked as a comedy but also tried to tell a satisfying mystery would find an audience, especially in times that are more 'interesting' shall we say.  When you add to that a certified national treasure like Timothy Spall and the brilliant Gwyneth Keyworth as the main duo then I think there's a lot to appeal to audiences.

What can audiences look forward to in series two?

Getting to make more Death Valley really gave us an opportunity to dial everything up another level. We've managed to attract some real wish-list guest cast as well as adding a level to the scale and ambition of the show. At its heart, though, the real joy of getting to make series two was being able to spend more time with the characters from series one, find out more about them and take them to new places.

You spoke about coming up with the idea for Death Valley because you are such a fan of the crime genre, how does it feel to get such positive responses from fans?

Bizarre, confusing and brilliant. As a mystery fan, I know how hard an audience we can be to please. We're always the ones shouting at the TV 'that wouldn't happen' or 'well obviously she did it', we're never happy. So, to receive such a positive response was hugely gratifying.

How did you approach writing series two and were there any new elements or themes you wanted to bring to the series?

The writing started with a very intimidating blank whiteboard which myself and the writing team started adding to with dream worlds we'd like to investigate; whether that's interesting locations, groups or communities. That's always the starting point for the episodes, where do we find interesting and multi-layered enough to want to spend an episode? Then we start diving into our characters. We were very keen to take what we'd learned about our core cast in series one and flesh them out. Series two sees us going deeper especially into Janie's family background and John's feelings towards his acting career, as well as mining a whole host of new tensions in our main duo.

How difficult is it to get the right balance of comedy and crime in the series?

It can be tricky but, in some ways, that awkward balance is the show’s unique selling point, and it’s a lot of fun to use both genres to subvert what people are expecting. Generally, if a scene’s starting to feel too much like a crime procedural, I always like to chuck an unexpected joke in. Likewise, if it feels too much like a comedy, it can be fun to undercut it with a moment of drama or tension out of the blue.

How would you describe the two lead characters Janie Mallowan and John Chapel and what makes them distinctive to other crime solving duos?

Essentially, they’re a pair of oddballs who, despite their many differences, understand each other better than anyone else. In some ways, they’re like Holmes and Watson, John the ‘genius’ with flights of fancy, Janie the one with a foot in the real world. I think what sets them apart from other crime solving duos, though, is that they both behave how I imagine real people would in a murder investigation, rather than the cool, unflappable way we’ve come to expect of TV detectives.

Do we see more of ‘Caesar’ in this series and how did you want to develop that side of John’s character in series two?

We definitely get to see a little more of ‘Caesar’ but we also get to find out much more about John’s past as an actor. A real joy for me is sneaking in details of shows John’s appeared in, we’ve added London’s Burning, Poldark and All Creatures Great and Small, as well as his involvement in a certain wizarding franchise. At this rate he’s going to need a bigger IMDB page. But series two certainly dives deeper into John’s status as an actor when a murder on a TV set forces him to face the reality that his career might be over.

What makes Death Valley different to other crime dramas?

I think the tone is hopefully what sets it apart. It’s able to find moments of comedy in what is usually portrayed as a very serious, procedural, professional world. It’s a crime drama populated by flawed, funny, relatable people which, if feedback from real police officers is to be believed, isn’t all that far from reality.

There is a case a week, tell us about the different cases and your inspiration for including them?

We’ve had a huge amount of fun with the different worlds we’ve been able to explore for series two. From a community service group to a fishing village to a rural rugby club. More often than not, the inspiration for these worlds comes from the emotional journeys our main characters are on, whether it’s the hippy commune where one of the suspects is a blast from Janie’s past to the TV set that forces John to look at his career as an actor. And, because it’s not a proper murder mystery without a locked room, we have a whole episode where the suspects are locked down in our police station.

What would you say are the key themes in Death Valley?

Unlikely pairings are a real theme of Death Valley. There’s no reason why John and Janie should have any common ground, but they manage to find a way, just like the unlikely pairing of crime and comedy. There’s also a real leaning in to finding the joy in the darkness. As a crime viewer, I’ve had enough of troubled, grizzled detectives in the wilderness battling their demons. Just because someone’s dead, doesn’t mean we have to be miserable about it.

Madeline Addy – Executive Producer

You must be delighted with the response to the first series, what did you want to build on for series two?

We were thrilled with the phenomenal response to the show. It was thrilling to see how much audiences took Paul’s fantastic creation and Timothy and Gwyneth’s nuanced performances as John and Janie to their hearts.

We were keen to build on deepening John and Janie’s central relationship by throwing various curveballs at them. Introducing new characters and situations for them to deal with is a good way to do that.

Taking John and Janie into new yet familiar worlds and subcultures, is a way of peeling back the layers of our leads, delving into elements of their past as they investigate crimes in a Welsh commune, a community payback group, on the set of a big flashy TV drama series, a local rugby club and a seaside fishing community.

What do you think makes Death Valley different to other comedy crime dramas?

Death Valley’s grounded-yet-irreverent tone is what makes it so distinctive and moreish. It’s full of heart, mischief and comedic characters grounded in truth, entwined with high stakes emotional drama. Paul is an absolute visionary at delivering consistently terrific scripts.

John and Janie’s idiosyncratic central relationship is what anchors Death Valley and sets it apart from other shows in the genre. Audiences love them and their developing relationship, as much as the juicy whodunnit element.

Developing this series is a huge collaborative effort. We’ve had Nina Metivier and Ian Jarvis on board to write episodes. The very talented writer Sian Harries is back contributing additional material across all episodes to ensure that we maintain a high level of authenticity to the show’s Welsh setting and characters.

Sian also co-wrote episode 3 with Paul. It’s a truly hilarious and poignant episode, where a murder takes place behind the scenes on an epic ‘Game of Throne style TV show. We had a lot of fun shooting that one.

What can audiences expect in terms of the visual style and tone of series two?

Our series Directors Simon Hynd and Claire Winyard, along with DOP Richard Stoddard, have done an incredible job delivering a high-end cinematic aesthetic to this series. There’s a fluidity to the camera work, combined with impeccable production design, costume, hair & make-up design; alongside the sound, brilliant location teams and the composed score

Everything’s been meticulously designed to draw audiences into John and Janie’s world.

Is there anything you wanted to do differently or enhance for series two?

It was important to us not to be complacent following the success of series one and push the ambition on series two creatively, in every aspect. We’ve done that by deepening John and Janie’s endearing partnership, introducing new obstacles for them to face together on a personal level alongside solving cases.

Elevating the intriguing episodic crime stories and introducing surprising guest characters was a way for us keep the format fresh. Paul and our writing team have outdone themselves in crafting new worlds to explore around Wales.

Pushing the visual ambition overall was key. Everything has been dialled up a few notches. Audiences are in for a treat!

Did you have a particular direction you wanted to take Timothy and Gwyneth’s characters for the new series?

We enjoy putting John and Janie’s relationship through the wringer. It’s fun for Paul to write and for Timothy and Gwyneth to play. Their relationship really sings when there’s comedic tension between them as well as big emotional conflict for them to grapple with.

There’s a lot for them to deal with including the fall out of John dating Janie’s mam Yvonne, Janie being overwhelmed by her work promotion and John being conflicted over whether to return to his once successful acting career. There’s also the introduction of Janie’s estranged Dad, Michael Mallowan, played by the wonderful Owen Teale.

These knotty emotional and character defining arcs will play out alongside the crime cases-of-the-week.

Once again there is a fantastic roll call of guest artists this series, what does that bring to the series?

We’ve been spoiled with a fantastic roster of guest stars across the series including Jane Horrocks, Roisin Conaty, Jim Howick, Mark Lewis Jones, Lynn Hunter, Alexandra Roach, Liz Carr, Hammed Annimashaun and Asim Chaudhry.

Our guest artists bring a real dynamism and fresh energy to the show.

With a new case each week and filming in different locations, what are the challenges and benefits that brings to the series?

Filming in multiple locations always makes a film shoot complex, you have to contend with various things such as unpredictable weather, but ultimately the breadth of locations we visit across the series is a challenge we relish.

The beauty of filming in Wales is that you don’t need to travel far to hit on such a wide variety of stunning locations. Our locations team pulled out all the stops in sourcing fantastic locations like Raglan Castle’s ancient ruins in Monmouthshire and a picturesque fishing village in Little Haven Pembrokeshire. A gothic Tudor mansion in Port Talbot was the backdrop for our epic ‘Game of Throne’ styles TV series show-within- a show. The locations we feature are very much supporting characters within the world of each story. It’s one of the key components of making the show look and feel distinctive.

I think watching the show is like going on a lovely holiday every week without leaving your sofa.

Can you tell us something about what’s in store for our returning cast this series?

Viewers will love being back in the company of our series regulars. There’s a love interest for DS Chaudhry (Rithvik Andugula). We’ll see how Janie’s mother Yvonne’s (Melanie Walters) shock relationship with John plays out. Baxter (Alexandria Riley) and Janie’s scenes together continue to delight. Plus Janie’s boss, Clarke (Steffan Rhodri), becomes involved in a case when his old boss is murdered at the police station.

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