Murder On The Blackpool Express
- TV comedy drama
- U&Gold
- 2017
- 1 episode
Comedy drama about a coach driver investigating a series of murders. Stars Johnny Vegas, Sian Gibson, Griff Rhys Jones, Mark Heap, Nina Wadia and more.
Press clippings
Murder On The Blackpool Express review
A funny comedy film? Well that's something you don't often see on the BBC.
Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 12th July 2023Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson returning with more murder mysteries
Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson have reunited for more comedy murder mysteries on Gold, this time in a three-part series called Murder They Hope.
British Comedy Guide, 2nd November 2020UKTV originals among top rated shows on network in 2018
Highest rated shows included Taskmaster on Dave, Death on the Tyne on Gold and Murder on the Blackpool Express on Drama.
Patrick Nunn, TV Wise, 4th January 2019Murder On The Blackpool Express to return
British Comedy Guide understands that Murder On The Blackpool Express, the comedy drama set around a coach trip, is to return.
British Comedy Guide, 21st July 2018Blackpool Express breaks Gold's ratings record
Murder On The Blackpool Express has been a ratings smash-hit for UKTV, having become the highest-ever rating show on its Gold channel. The comedy drama, starring Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson and a host of TV favourites has drawn in 1.72 million viewers since its premiere on Gold on 11th November.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th November 2017Penned by Hebburn writer Jason Cook, Griff Rhys Jones plays mercenary murder mystery writer David Van Der Clane, who's helming a budget coach tour of super-fans to the locations from his novels, ending up at Blackpool Tower. Except soon they're getting bumped off. There's a fine cast including Johnny Vegas, Sian Gibson and Una Stubbs, but even Kevin Eldon and Mark Heap find it hard to wring out any laughs. Whodunnit? Who cares?
Ben Arnold, The Guardian, 11th November 2017I don't think I've ever seen a more impressive cast lined up for a TV comedy than the one Gold has assembled for its special one-off original commission Murder on the Blackpool Express. So I ought to namecheck them, oughtn't I?
There's Johnny Vegas, Sian Gibson (best known for Peter Kay's Car Share), Nigel Havers, Una Stubbs, Griff Rhys Jones, Nina Wadia, Sheila Reid, Kevin Eldon, Mark Heap, Kimberley Nixon, Katy Cavanagh, Matthew Cottle, Susie Blake and Javone Prince. There you have them: some of the best comedic talent from the past half a century or so - and a lot for the scriptwriters and directors to live up to.
Where do you go with that lot? Well, Blackpool, obviously, on a "literary coach tour" with Vegas driving and Gibson as the guide, but also a journey of detective investigation to discover exactly which of the assembled odd bods did for pensioner Marjorie, murdered by means of a dodgy cob with coronation chicken filling. There's one clue for you. Remember: Means, Motive, Opportunity. Enjoy.
Sean O'Grady, The Independent, 11th November 2017Sian Gibson interview
The comedy star talks latest series Murder On The Blackpool Express and how she first thought Car Share was "dreadful".
Stephen Armstrong, Radio Times, 11th November 2017Review: Murder on the Blackpool Express, Gold
The Christmas spirit has already started this year. Not just with the John Lewis adverts but with this comedy.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 11th November 2017Murder On The Blackpool Express preview
While Murder On The Blackpool Express is probably not an instant classic, the playfulness of its fine cast make it an affable diversion, and a happy slice of family viewing (9.30pm actually seems like too late a slot) that could bear many a bank holiday repeat.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 11th November 2017