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BBC releases first-look images of Welsh crime drama The Last Detectives

The BBC has released first-look photos of The Last Detectives, a six-part crime drama set in Tenby, Wales, formerly titled Old Town Murders. It is written by Matthew Barry and produced by Nicola Shindler's Quay Street Productions.

2 outlets · 0L · 2C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Deadline
Image: Digital Spy

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The story, neutrally told

CentreThe BBC has released first-look images of The Last Detectives, a crime drama set in the Welsh coastal town of Tenby, previously titled Old Town Murders. CentreThe series is written by Matthew Barry and stars Mark Lewis Jones as DI Glyn Walsh and Steffan Rhodri as DS Sion Dearden, with Bethan-Mary James, Jordan Davies, Julie Graham and Catherine Ayers in supporting roles. CentreDeadline reports that the detectives are joined by DC Remy Jones, DC Neil Miller and forensic biologist Pamela Thomas (Graham), and that the cases unfold against the backdrop of Tenby and its "long-buried secrets".

CentreDigital Spy says the six episodes will present three cases, each told over two parts, and quotes a description of the show as a "crime series brimming with wit, humour and grounded in character". CentreBarry said he was "beyond excited to be re-teaming with Quay Street and the BBC", calling it a story about finding friendship and meaning in later life told through a police procedural. CentreBarry previously worked with Lewis Jones and Rhodri on the BBC single drama Men Up, and Digital Spy says he wrote Glyn and Sion with the two actors in mind.

CentreQuay Street Productions, which is backed by ITV Studios, makes the series; it is Shindler's first since Tip Toe, and Shindler and Davina Earl are executive producers. CentreRebecca Ferguson is executive producer for the BBC and co-commissioner with Nick Andrews of BBC Wales; Andy Newbery directs episodes 1-4 and Rhys Carter episodes 5 and 6, with Hannah Daniel writing episode 4. CentreThe show received Welsh Government support through Creative Wales and was filmed in Tenby, Cardiff and along the South Wales coastline; ITV Studios is handling sales.

CentreIt will air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer; no transmission date appears in the coverage. Both outlets present it as a potential hit, with Deadline saying the BBC is "betting big" on it as its "next breakout crime drama".

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Both trade and entertainment outlets run the story as a promotional first look, presenting the show as a potential breakout hit for the BBC.
Emphasis
Deadline stresses production credits, commissioners and funding; Digital Spy stresses the cast's other shows, the premise and the BBC One/iPlayer release.
Leaves out or plays down
Neither gives a transmission date or critical assessment; Digital Spy omits the crew and funding details, while Deadline omits the three-case structure and the broadcast platform.
Charged language
“next breakout crime drama”“betting big”“eagerly-awaited”
For example
“EXCLUSIVE: The BBC is betting big on Matthew Barry’s The Last Detectives to be its next breakout crime drama and we’ve got first look.” — Deadline
“this could be a breakout crime drama for the broadcaster” — Digital Spy

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.