Johnny Vegas, Sian Gibson and guest stars film Death On The Tyne
- Channel Gold has announced Murder On The Blackpool Express sequel Death On The Tyne
- Starring Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson again, this time the plot sees characters taking a ferry trip to Amsterdam
- Guest stars include Sue Johnston, Felicity Montagu, Doon Mackichan and James Fleet
Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson will star in Death On The Tyne, a sequel to last year's hit one-off comedy drama Murder On The Blackpool Express.
The new two hour special will see Vegas and Gibson return as travel organisers Terry and Gemma. Channel Gold confirms: "The pair will reunite with a whole host of comedy greats as they embark on a brand-new murder mystery caper."
The feature-length special is currently being filmed, with the script written by Jason Cook again.
Vegas and Gibson say: "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."
Murder On The Blackpool Express was broadcast in November 2017. Attracting nearly 2 million viewers in the week it was broadcast, it instantly became Gold's highest ever rated show. The special saw Terry and Gemma driving fans of a pompous author on a literary tour. However, one by one, the passengers are killed in suspicious circumstances, resulting in the duo having to turn detectives to discover who the murderer is.
The new story is set on a ferry, with the Death On The Tyne title seemingly spoofing Agatha Christie's Death On The Nile.
As with the first show, an all-star line-up has been assembled to star in the special. The cast list includes The Royle Family's Sue Johnston, Alan Partridge actor Felicity Montagu, Smack The Pony alumnus Doon Mackichan, Damned actor Georgie Glen, Don Gilet (Lucas Johnson in EastEnders), Tony Gardner (Fresh Meat), The Vicar Of Dibley star James Fleet, Taj Atwal from Stella, and David Mumeni.
Sheila Reid, who played one of the only characters in the first special not to have been killed, returns for the new special too.
Talking about the plot, producers explain: "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. "
Andy Brereton, the Executive Producer for production company Shiny Button, says: "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."
Pete Thornton from UKTV comments: "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, adds: "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."
Talking about filming, Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson say: "We are loving once again being the Kylie and Jason of budget travel slaughter."
Death On The Tyne will air later this year on Gold alongside the recently announced series My Favourite Sketch, hosted by Sally Phillips.