When Death Valley first hit BBC One in 2025, nobody quite expected the quirky Welsh-set crime drama to become the broadcaster’s most successful comedy launch in half a decade. Yet here we are in May 2026, and the show’s second season has returned with a fresh batch of murder mysteries, a beloved cast, and a renewed spotlight on the breathtaking landscapes and culture of Wales.
Front and center are Gwyneth Keyworth, reprising her role as Detective Janie Mallowan, and BAFTA-winning actor Timothy Spall as the hammy, retired television star John Chapel. Their odd-couple partnership—equal parts awkward and endearing—continues to anchor the show, with new twists in both their professional and personal lives. According to BBC, the second series picks up a few months after the first, with John Chapel now officially signed on as a police consultant, helping Janie crack cases across the Vale of Glamorgan and beyond. The dynamic between the two is further complicated this time around by John’s budding romance with Janie’s mother—a development that provides both comedic fodder and emotional depth.
“It opens up an emotional story for John; there’s a journey there—he thinks the relationship he’s in with Yvonne is heading towards a long-term one, but it abruptly takes a very different course. This also affects John and Janie’s relationship as they pair up for a new case, it affords a lot of comedy but also highlights John’s habit of self-dramatisation. I love that side of John, his indulgences, which are a mixture of his sophistication, conceits and vulnerability,” Timothy Spall told the BBC in a recent interview. Spall, now 69 and a fixture on British screens for over forty years, has been more involved behind the scenes this season, working closely with creator Paul Doolan to shape the direction of his character and the evolving relationship between John and Janie.
The show’s enduring appeal owes much to its setting—the rolling hills, rugged coastlines, and storied castles of Wales. Season 2 doubles down on the visual feast, with each of the six new episodes unfolding in a different, striking location. The opening episode sees the duo investigating a suspicious death during community service at Raglan Castle in Monmouthshire, described by multiple outlets as the “grandest castle ever built by Welshmen.” It’s a setting that delighted Keyworth, who confessed, “The geek in me was absolutely... I fall asleep listening to history podcasts, so I was like, Raglan Castle? Yes please! It was absolutely. I love that.”
Subsequent episodes take viewers on a veritable tour of Wales. The second installment is set in the fictional seaside town of Abertonnau, but filmed on location in Little Haven and Milford Haven, with additional scenes at Barry Yacht Club and The White Cross Inn in Taff’s Well, Rhondda Cynon Taf. The third episode pivots to a ‘Game of Thrones’ styled fantasy drama shoot at Margam Castle and Country Park in Port Talbot, where the line between fiction and reality blurs amid a fresh murder investigation. Episode four’s action unfolds in a sustainable living commune, with exterior shots at Coed Hills in St Hilary, Vale of Glamorgan. The exterior of John’s cozy cottage is also found in St Hilary, while the interiors are recreated on a BBC studio set.
But perhaps the most culturally resonant episode for Welsh viewers is the season finale, which revolves around a murder at Maesteg Rugby Club in South Wales. For Keyworth, the inclusion of the rugby club was especially meaningful: “What is great is there’s an episode set in a rugby club, which, like for Welsh culture, is a big thing. You know, rugby in England is a posh-boy thing; in Wales, it’s a working-class thing. My parents met in a rugby club. I used to go there every Christmas to see Santa Claus. Having things like that really felt authentic to the Welsh experience and to the Welsh culture. It is really, really magic, actually. It’s not just about the breathtaking, like landscapes, because, and you know, it’s evident that it’s beautiful, but it’s also about the little things like that, like a rugby club.”
Beyond its locations and lighthearted tone, Death Valley’s success also lies in its ability to blend comedy with genuine mystery and character-driven drama. The scripts, described by The Telegraph as “crisply written,” allow the cast to have fun while keeping viewers guessing. Each episode is a self-contained whodunnit, with a rotating cast of suspects and motives. Jane Horrocks and Mark Lewis Jones are among the notable guest stars this season, adding further depth and variety to the ensemble.
Still, the show is not without its critics. Some reviewers have called the eccentricity of the small-town setting “forced,” and John Chapel’s theatrical flourishes can be divisive. “Either you find Chapel’s declamations and references to his acting career (‘My revelatory Tartuffe at the Almeida…’) funny, or they leave you cold,” wrote one columnist. Yet even skeptics concede that the performances—particularly those of Spall and Keyworth—elevate the material. Steffan Rhodri, as Janie’s boss DCI Barry Clarke, is singled out for his comic timing, especially in exchanges like, “How would you feel if he was sleeping with your mum?” to which Clarke deadpans, “I’d be mortified. She’s been dead since 2015. Why would you even suggest that?”
Timothy Spall’s presence, of course, is a major draw for viewers. With a career that includes everything from Secrets and Lies to the Harry Potter franchise, Spall has long been a household name. Off-screen, he’s known for his resilience—having survived a battle with acute myeloid leukaemia in the 1990s—and his close-knit family. Married to author Shane Spall for 45 years, Timothy is the father of three: Pascale, a teacher; Mercedes, a textile designer; and Rafe, an actor in his own right, recognized for roles in Shaun of the Dead and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Death Valley Season 2 is available to stream in its entirety on BBC iPlayer, and airs weekly on BBC One and BritBox. For fans, it’s a welcome return to a world where the scenery is as captivating as the mysteries, and where the heart of Welsh culture beats just beneath the surface of every case. Whether you’re drawn in by the stunning locations, the offbeat humor, or simply the chance to watch Spall and Keyworth spar, there’s something undeniably charming about this series. And with the ratings still buoyant, it looks like this oddball detective duo will be sticking around Welsh valleys for a while yet.
Sometimes, the real magic of television is found not just in the stories we tell, but in the places and people that bring them to life.