The Good Ship Murder

Last updated
The Good Ship Murder
Genre Crime drama
Mystery
Created byPaul Matthew Thompson
Mike Benson
Based onAn idea
by Ben Frow
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
  • Paul Matthew Thompson
  • Mike Benson
ProducerSandra MacIver
CinematographyMark Waters / Evan Barry
EditorJohn Phillipson
Running time42 minutes
Production companyClapperboard Studios
Original release
Network Channel 5
Release13 October 2023 (2023-10-13) 
present

The Good Ship Murder is a British television crime drama series created by Paul Matthew Thompson and Mike Benson, set on a luxury Mediterranean cruise ship. It follows a retired detective-turned cabaret singer solving murders on board. [1] [2] It stars Shayne Ward and Catherine Tyldesley. [3] The series began broadcast on Channel 5 on 13 October 2023. The programme was renewed for two more series and a Christmas special in 2024. [4]

Contents

Synopsis

Former police detective Jack Grayling finds his old life intruding on his job as a cruise ship singer, when murders begin happening onboard. With the help of the ship's First Officer, Kate Woods, Grayling solves a series of unusual mysteries, against the sunny backdrop of the Mediterranean.

Each episode ends with Jack performing a song in the ship's cabaret lounge.

Cast

Production

The series was filmed onboard a working cruise ship, the MSC Virtuosa, operating out of Southampton. [5] [6] The show is produced by Clapperboard and Fifth Season. [7] It is the fourth production Clapperboard has produced in Malta within two years. [8]

MSC Cruises UK & Ireland Managing Director Antonio Paradiso said that the series "will bring the magnificence of MSC Virtuosa into living rooms across the country, giving viewers an inside look into life onboard one of our world-class ships." Channel 5 has hosted a number of programmes about cruises in the same 9PM TV slot, including Cruising with Jane McDonald and The Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World, about life onboard Seven Seas Explorer . [9]

Much of the series was filmed in Malta. [10] It was produced with the support of the government of Malta, 'through the financial incentives of the Malta Film Commission. Production was "expected to generate around 2.3m Euros into the local economy according to the Malta Film Commission." [8]

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1 813 October 2023 (2023-10-13)1 December 2023 (2023-12-01)
Christmas Special (2024) 118 December 2024 (2024-12-18)
2 810 January 2025 (2025-01-10)TBA

Episodes

Series 1 (2023)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"La Rochelle"Steve HughesPaul Matthew Thompson13 October 2023 (2023-10-13)
Former detective turned cruise ship singer Jack Grayling teams up with First Officer Kate Woods to solve a murder in La Rochelle.
2"Lisbon"Steve HughesJohanne McAndrew20 October 2023 (2023-10-20)
Jack and Kate set out to discover who was responsible for the death of the husband of the world's number one crime writer.
3"Casablanca"Steve HughesLucia Haynes27 October 2023 (2023-10-27)
In Casablanca, the sun-drenched alleys and markets hide sinister secrets and soon, a charity helping street kids is mired in scandal and a murder has been committed.
4"Palma"Steve HughesSuzanne Cowie3 November 2023 (2023-11-03)
In Palma, a dramatic kidnap and ransom demand shatters the party mood ahead of a lavish wedding. Jack and Kate set out to unravel the mystery before it takes a tragic turn.
5"At Sea"Steve Hughes Joe Ainsworth 10 November 2023 (2023-11-10)
Jack and Kate have no shortage of suspects when during a high stakes poker tournament on board their cruise ship, a top player is dealt a deadly hand.
6"Sicily"Steve HughesMark Stevenson17 November 2023 (2023-11-17)
As the cruise ship arrives in Sicily, a deadly family saga unfolds involving a successful businessman, his children and his new wife. When death strikes, was it a Mafia hit or someone closer to home?.
7"Barcelona"Steve HughesAndrew Bayliss24 November 2023 (2023-11-24)
Jack and Kate investigate a crime that feels personal after a murderer strikes in the shadow of Barcelona's majestic Sagrada Familia.
8"Valletta"Steve Hughes Jeff Povey 1 December 2023 (2023-12-01)
As the ship stops one last time, a famous singer causes a stir. It's not long before there's a murder in Malta.

Christmas Special (2024)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
9"Dubrovnik"Steve HughesJeff Povey18 December 2024 (2024-12-18)
When the cruise ship's Santa falls ill, the crew must find a replacement to save Christmas. Their search leads them to a comedian named Buddy in Dubrovnik, who seems perfect, but his death threatens to ruin the holiday.

Series 2 (2025)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
10"Rome"Steve HughesSuzanne Cowie10 January 2025 (2025-01-10)
Jack is ready to take a bold step in his relationship with Kate, but the arrival of his estranged daughter throws his plans into chaos - alongside his investigation into murder at an opera.
11"Gran Canaria"Steve HughesMark Stevenson17 January 2025 (2025-01-17)
Jack and Kate are still reeling from their fallout in Rome, each trying to suppress their growing feelings. Adding fuel to the fire, Piers steps into his new role as Staff Captain with calculated charm, hoping to rekindle his relationship with Kate.
12"Madeira"Steve HughesJoe Ainsworth24 January 2025 (2025-01-24)
13"Gozo"TBATBA31 January 2025 (2025-01-31)
14"Alexandria"TBATBA7 February 2025 (2025-02-07)
15TBATBATBATBA
16TBATBATBATBA
17TBATBATBATBA

Reception

The Sun said that the show is "so murderously awful, it's brilliant", and that "The Good Ship Murder is a woke-free zone." [11]

The i Paper described the show as "not supposed to be a comedy, but Shayne Ward's silly cruise ship murder mystery is sheer ridiculous fun". [12]

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References

  1. "The Good Ship Murder on C5: Coronation Street's Catherine Tyldesley and Shayne Ward reunite". 31 October 2022.
  2. "Corrie's Shayne Ward, Catherine Tyldesley drama gets release date". Digital Spy . 2 October 2023.
  3. "The Good Ship Murder cast: Meet the characters in Channel 5 drama".
  4. "C5 sets sail for S2 and S3 of the Good Ship Murder". 24 April 2024.
  5. "Channel 5's the Good Ship Murder start time, cast list, and how many episodes". 13 October 2023.
  6. "MSC Virtuosa to star in TV Series The Good Ship Murder". MSC Virtuosa. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  7. "MSC VIRTUOSA TO STAR IN NEW CHANNEL 5 SERIES THE GOOD SHIP MURDER". www.msccruises.co.uk/. 12 October 2023.
  8. 1 2 "British TV series HMS Murder filming in Malta". www.kftv.com. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  9. Coulter, Adam (2024-02-05). "MSC Virtuosa to star in Channel 5 show". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  10. "Where was The Good Ship Murder filmed?". Radio Times. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  11. "Good Ship Murder is a load of old ship - it's so murderously awful but brilliant". The Sun. 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  12. Watkins, Emily (10 January 2025). "I've never laughed at anything as much as at The Good Ship Murder". The i Paper. Retrieved 24 January 2025.