Death Valley returns with Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth on 17 May
death valley returns on Sunday 17 May at 8pm on iPlayer, One and BritBox, bringing Timothy Spall back as John Chapel and Gwyneth Keyworth back as Janie Mallowan for series two. The first series is already available on iPlayer, and the new run puts the pair back into a murder investigation in the Welsh countryside.
Timothy Spall said he had been more involved with the development for series two and had made suggestions for John’s character and for the relationship between Janie and John. He said, “You never know how something will be received, so I was delighted with the enthusiastic and very positive response.”
Timothy Spall on series two
Spall also said, “I’ve been a little more involved with the development for series two, so it’s been excellent working with creator/writer Paul Doolan, making suggestions for John’s character and the relationship development between Janie and John.” He added, “I hope we’ve moved the story on and remained consistent; Paul has really excelled himself with the diverse and interesting cases in series two and there are some ambitious stories with a gallery of fascinating original characters taken on by excellent new guest artists.”
That points to a second series that keeps the same central pairing while widening the cases around them. The regular cast also includes Alexandria Riley, Steffan Rhodri, Melanie Walters and Rithvik Andugula, and John Chapel is now a retired actor who is drawn back into the world of acting on the set of an epic Welsh fantasy TV series.
Janie Mallowan and John Chapel
At the start of the new series, John is “slightly estranged” from Janie because of “the fallout from being exposed as secretly working with her on the cases,” which Spall said was “seriously frowned upon” by DCI Barry Clarke. Spall also said, “John also reveals he’s in a relationship with Yvonne (Melanie Walters) Janie’s mum, which doesn’t go down at all well with Janie.”
Spall added, “She feels he’s been ‘a snake’ for going behind her back.” Janie is a Welsh detective who has been newly promoted to Detective Inspector, and DCI Barry Clarke forces her to bring John Chapel in as the department's consultant after a murder in a Community Payback group.
iPlayer, One and BritBox
The return gives viewers a same-night choice across iPlayer, One and BritBox, while the first series remains available to watch on iPlayer. Series two also expands the show’s range through new guest artists and stories set across the Welsh countryside, keeping John and Janie at the center of the investigation.
For viewers who followed the first series, the practical change is simple: death valley is back on 17 May at 8pm, and the new episodes reopen the relationship between John, Janie and Yvonne as the murder cases move forward.
