Murder at sea!
Sian Gibson and Johnny Vegas are back with another star-studded Agatha Christie spoof – but this time they’re on a cruise ship…
Death on the Tyne SAT / CHRISTMAS gold / 9PM
Amurderer in a cuddly dolphin costume with a bottle of Jane Mcdonald perfume and a chocolate bar for weapons might not be the stuff of Agatha Christie but we’d expect nothing less from a Christmas Gold whodunit!
Death on the Tyne is the featurelength sequel to last year’s Murder on the Blackpool Express, which saw chippy coach driver Terry (Benidorm’s Johnny Vegas) and tour guide Gemma (Car Share’s Sian Gibson) take us on a deadly trip.
This time, the duo reunite with cheery pensioner Mildred (Benidorm’s Sheila Reid) to take her and some pals on a cruise from Newcastle to Holland.
But on board the Empress of the Tyne, they’re at the mercy of a serial killer who dons the costume of the ship’s mascot, Dippy the Dolphin, and embarks on a murderous spree.
TV Times met up with Johnny, 48, and Sian, 42, in London...
How would you describe
Death on the Tyne?
Johnny: It is like an Agatha Christie where they’re all trapped on this boat and tragedy strikes, but how is it happening again? How do these people attract crazy scenarios? Sian: This one feels claustrophobic because they’re stuck on the ship. Johnny: And there’s more violence – they’ve ramped it up.
How has Terry and Gemma’s romance developed? Sian: They are now properly together. In the first one, when he became a hero and solved the case, she got a twinkle in her eye for him, so now someone being murdered again has brought all the excitement back. She fancies him when he’s in action mode and solving crimes. If we do a third and there are no murders to solve, they’re screwed! Johnny: It could be Gemma doing the murders just to keep the relationship fresh! Terry wants to propose now but people keep getting murdered. There is some tenderness about this couple falling in love within this outlandish story where somebody’s beaten to death with a chocolate bar! Did you enjoy working with the guest cast, which includes the likes of Sue Johnston, Doon Mackichan and James Fleet? Johnny: You fawn over them, Sian! Sian: Yes, I get starstruck. Sue’s amazing, I’m a massive fan of Doon and we’ve got the lovely Sheila Reid back, who’s hilarious. I was gutted that we didn’t meet Jane Mcdonald [when she filmed an ad for the fake perfume], though. You just can’t have a cruise ship without Jane Mcdonald! But there were no egos from anyone. They have to do ridiculous things but everyone came in with the right attitude of having fun and not taking things too seriously.
Were you filming on a proper ship? Has it tempted you to go on a cruise in real life?
Sian: We were mainly in a studio but we also filmed on an oil-rig ship and spent a day on a posh superyacht, which was super! I don’t think a cruise would appeal to me. I’d do it if Gold wanted us to do a spin-off! It could be just us two cruising round the Greek islands and Johnny walking on deck with a towel slung over his shoulder.
Johnny: Yes, there has to be a reality show spin-off in this. We have also had a few private discussions about bringing back [cult American mystery drama] Hart to Hart with us two – but in Preston!
Would you like to do more work together in the future, then? Johnny: Yes. What is so lovely is that Sian’s very creative and we’re collaborating and knocking ideas about to do something else. Sian: We speak all the time. I’ve got things
I’m doing with Peter Kay [who Sian cowrote and co-starred with on BBC1’S hit comedy Car Share], but I want to work on this every year. It’s a joy.
Death on The Tyne is previewed ON PAGES 36-37
You can’t have a cruise ship without Jane Mcdonald!
SIAN GIBSON