New Murder Dramedy for UKTV’s Gold

LONDON: UKTV has commissioned Murder on The Blackpool Express, a two-part murder mystery comedy drama, for broadcast on its Gold channel.

Murder on The Blackpool Express is set on a guided tour coach trip, during which an OAP dies under suspicious circumstances. The 2×60-minute UKTV Original is being made by Tiger Aspect Productions. It was created by Jason Cook, who’s writing credits include the BBC’s Hebburn.

The executive producers for Murder on The Blackpool Express are Hilary Rosen and Tanya Qureshi for UKTV and Andy Brereton for Tiger Aspect.

Rosen, UKTV’s senior commissioning editor, commented: “We are delighted to be working with both Jason Cook, who has delivered a highly entertaining script, and Tiger Aspect, after the huge success of the award-winning Crackanory on Dave. Murder on The Blackpool Express provides a delicious twist to the murder mystery genre and shows our continued ambition to grow scripted comedy on Gold through a range of different durations and voices.”

Steve North, the general manager of Gold, stated: “With a raft of comic characters, large set pieces and a thrilling whodunnit twist, Murder on The Blackpool Express will provide an ambitious and truly unique offering for the Gold audience. Following an overwhelmingly positive response from viewers to new scripted comedies such as Marley’s Ghosts and The Rebel, we’re delighted to be announcing another cracking piece of brand-defining comedy for the channel.”

Brereton, Tiger Aspect’s head of comedy entertainment, added: “Working with the team at UKTV is always a pleasure. They’ve shown an unflinching passion for the excellent script written by Jason Cook and we’re all really looking forward to getting those passengers on a bus to Blackpool… and seeing who survives!”