Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson return in Death on the Tyne with all-star cast of comedy heroes

MOTBPE

Sian Gibson, Johnny Vegas

Tuesday 24 July 2018

Building on the incredible success of UKTV Original Murder on the Blackpool Express in 2017, Gold is bringing back Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson's much-loved characters Terry and Gemma in Death on the Tyne (1x120'). The pair will reunite with a whole host of comedy greats as they embark on a brand-new murder mystery caper.

Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson quipped:

The script is just a wonderful flowering garden of Cook's writing and we are just two happy bees dancing in among the nectar of blood, betrayal and nautical based murder. We are loving once again being the Kylie and Jason of budget travel slaughter. (Sian nodded.)

The feature-length murder mystery, produced by BAFTA award-winning Shiny Button Productions, is set on a ferry and lines up an impressive ensemble cast including Sue Johnston (The Royle Family), Felicity Montagu (Bridget Jones's Diary, I'm Alan Partridge), Doon Mackichan (Smack the Pony, Two Doors Down), Georgie Glen (Calendar Girls, Damned), Don Gilet (EastEnders), Tony Gardner (Stella, Fresh Meat), James Fleet (Vicar of Dibley), Taj Atwal (Stella, In the Club), David Mumeni (The Windsors, Fearless) and the return of Sheila Reid (Benidorm) as Mildred.

Terry (Johnny Vegas) and Gemma (Sian Gibson) promise to take Mildred (Sheila Reid) and her care home friends, including Hilda (Georgie Glen) and Colleen (Sue Johnston) on an Amsterdam cruise adventure across the Tyne.

They're welcomed aboard the Empress of the Tyne by ageing lothario Captain Jack (James Fleet) and his motley crew - Cruise Director Denise (Felicity Montagu), First Officer Justin Valentine (Tony Gardner), DJ Bobby (David Mumeni), ex-pianist Alan (Don Gilet), barmaid Tracy (Taj Atwal) and self-obsessed cabaret singer Emily (Doon Mackichan). It's not long before things start to go awry in the most puzzling mystery the Tyne has ever seen.

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Gold

Death on the Tyne is written by Jason Cook (Hebburn, Murder on the Blackpool Express), directed by critically-acclaimed comedy director Ed Bye (French and Saunders, Kevin & Perry Go Large, Red Dwarf, Bottom), with Catherine Gosling Fuller (Derry Girls) as series producer, Mollie Freedman-Berthoud (Murder on the Blackpool Express) as producer, and executive produced by Andy Brereton (Murder in Successville) for Shiny Button. The UKTV Original was ordered by director of commissioning Richard Watsham and Steve North, genre general manager for comedy and entertainment for Gold. Pete Thornton is executive producer for UKTV.

Jason Cook's first outing Murder on the Blackpool Express was the most watched show ever on Gold with 1.8 million viewers*.

Pete Thornton, senior commissioning editor said:

It's a real joy to be taking to the high seas (or at least the Tyne Estuary) with the hugely talented team at Shiny Button (this time with award winning director Ed Bye at the helm). Jason Cook has come up with a jewel of a script, toiling through the long winter months to create another complex, properly funny and hugely satisfying feature length murder mystery - packed with characters to die for, or indeed be killed by.

Gerald Casey, channel director for Gold added:

We're delighted to be reuniting Sian and Johnny for another hilarious and thrilling whodunnit, alongside an equally stellar cast. Murder on the Blackpool Express was overwhelmingly loved by the Gold viewers and these shows embody our commitment to new, exciting and original comedy alongside our familiar favourites.

Andy Brereton, Exec Producer for Shiny Button added:

I cannot wait for viewers to see Johnny, Sian and Shelia back to their sleuthing best, in a cracking new mystery by Jason Cook. I like to think that if she were still alive this would be Agatha Christie's favourite show, after Taskmaster.

Death on the Tyne will air later this year on Gold alongside recently announced UKTV Original My Favourite Sketch, hosted by Sally Phillips.

UKTV Original

For more information and interview requests please contact:
Gem Pinkney, Publicity Manager

About Gold

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On demand on Sky and Now TV

Dedicated to celebrating the best of British comedy, Gold is the nation's favourite comedy channel.

Much-loved comedy series such as Only Fools and Horses, The Vicar of Dibley and The Royle Family sit alongside an array of successful UKTV Originals including David Jason: My Life on Screen, The Rebel, The Story of Only Fools and Horses, and Murder on the Blackpool Express, which stars a stunning cast including Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson. The feature length UKTV Original attracted 1.72 million viewers in its first week in 2017, making it Gold's highest ever rating show.

The perfect tonic to make you laugh whatever the time of day, Gold shows universally funny content that everyone can enjoy.

Gold.uktv.co.uk | @goldtvchannel

About UKTV
UKTV is a commercial broadcaster reaching nearly 40m viewers every month.

The award-winning independent has eleven imaginative brands - UKTV Play, Dave, W, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food. These include the two most popular non-PSB channels in the UK and account for nearly 10% of the British commercial TV market.

The network delivers inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat, Amazon Fire and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories.

Now celebrating over 20 years at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Studios and Discovery, Inc. - is proud to be the first British television broadcaster in The Sunday Times top 100 companies list.

corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress

About Shiny Button Productions
Shiny Button Productions is an independent scripted comedy production company founded by Andy Brereton, James De Frond and Tom Davis, the award-winning team behind the hit BBC Three series, Murder in Successville. Shiny Button Productions is an independent label within Tiger Aspect Productions and is part of Endemol Shine UK.