There's nothing better than cwtching up, ordering a takeaway and watching a cosy crime drama. With one of our favourite shows, Death in Paradise's fourteenth season recently coming to an end, like us you may be thinking 'what can I watch instead?'.
Of course, our Friday night will still have an element of paradise with a series that's a bit closer to home. Beyond Paradise, the show's spin off is back on our screens on BBC One at 8pm every week. It features the actor Kris Marshall, who plays Humphrey Goodman, after his stint on Death in Paradise he took up the position of DI in the Devon town of Shipton Abbott.
That being said Death in Paradise, isn't like most crime dramas, because of it's beautiful location, it's even in the title, "paradise"! Most programmes in the same genre are typically, dark and emulate the noir genre. You may be wondering what other crime dramas, that have a similar gorgeous setting, are lingering around. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter.
Well, you're in luck, a new season of The Madame Blanc Mysteries is back on our screens on Channel 5. The series stars British actress and Coronation Street legend, Sally Lindsay as Jean White, an Antiques expert who moves to France when she is suspicious of how her husband had died. She then uses her skills to become a PI aiding the local police in solving mysteries in the village.
Described as "Sunshine on screen" by the UK Time News, it's the perfect show to take the place of our favourite sunny crime drama. However rather than the Caribbean, the series is filmed in Malta and Gozo, despite being set in the fictional French village of Sainte Victoire.
Despite her soap opera roots, Sally is quite the comedic actress, and truly a National Treasure in the eyes of fans. Viewers of the show may originally tune in for the thrill of the crime drama, but they will definitely stick around for the actress. Whilst promoting the series, Channel 5 shared a video of the actress saying, "The one and only Sally Lindsay," alongside some of her onscreen best bits.
The series itself started in 2021, and will be returning for its fourth season. Greg Barnett, Channel 5’s commissioning editor, said: "The Madame Blanc Mysteries has won over the hearts of our audience, and we can’t wait to say ‘Bonjour’ to our Sainte Victoire favourites once again.
"The crime rates may be sky-high in this village but we’re in great hands with the brilliant Jean White and trusty sidekicks to crack every case."
In past series we have seen precious treasures, stolen paintings and family dramas, but what could the new series entail? Earlier this year, Sally opened up on what fans can expect from the new episodes while attending the Radio Times Covers Party.
She said: "We open with two 75-year-old hotties on jet skis flying across the Mediterranean, and then they find a dead body. So, I don't think I've seen that on television before. I hope I haven't!
"And my husband's done an amazing Hawaii Five-0 riff to it. So, that's what I want everyone to start off with. But, actually, the edit's come out really well. We've got some brilliant actors, brilliant friends in it again, so yeah, I'm very proud."
Sally's husband, Steve White is a famous drummer who has collaborated on music for the series, performed with Paul Weller and has also presented and consulted on Sky Arts' series "The Art of Drumming". Not forgetting his other claim to fame, aa he is also the older brother of Alan White, the official drummer of Oasis from 1995 to 2004.
The series started back on Thursday, March 20 and you can catch up on the series online here. New episodes will be available to watch on Channel 5 or online every Thursday at 9pm.
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