Murders, mysteries, and mayhem, oh my!
Let's be honest, even with a juicy murder mysetery sometimes it feels like every plot has been done to death (pun intended!). We’re obsessed with a good whodunnit, and The Marlow Murder Club, absolutely delivers!
We’re returning to the picturesque, and slightly murder-esque, streets of Marlow. Get ready to returnnnn, because one of our favourite shows of 2024 is back for season 2, and things are even more intriguing!
We're diving headfirst into more mysteries with retired archaeologist Judith Potts, played by the brilliant Samantha Bond, and her sleuthing sidekicks Suzie and Becks. Season one had us hooked with its picturesque setting, quirky characters, and those twisty-turny plots, and now, the detective trio is back to uncover even more secrets lurking beneath the surface of this seemingly idyllic town.
So, what kind of mayhem awaits us in season two? And what's it like stepping back into Judith's very sensible shoes? We had the absolute pleasure of chatting with the one and only Samantha Bond to get the inside scoop on The Marlow Murder Club season 2.
Samantha Bond on The Marlow Murder Club season 2
Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us! Judith is such a brilliant character, to get started, it’s only right that we ask you what was it like slipping back into Judith Potts’ world?
It's funny, because all the things you say to describe the characters are true of the actors playing them—so there's a huge warmth, there's a huge friendship, there's an awful lot of love, and that's both the three equity members, and the three characters that you watch on the screen. So gorgeous going back.
I did also go to screening for the first episode of the first season, so I did notice in the Q&A panel that there was a lot of good vibes – there was a great energy between everybody involved. I know there's a strong chemistry between Suzie, Becks and Judith on screen. What is it like working together?
It's bloody lovely. And the other one, of course, is Nat who plays DS Tanika Malik, who's also part of the gang off screen, less so on screen. Although there are developments on that front as well in series 2 [but] we all work quite closely together.
So, the Marlow Murder Club has this lovely cosy feel, I think, because of the characters and the picturesque scenes in Marlow. But it's also very much a “proper” whodunit. What do you think makes the show so popular?
I think it's the script. I think the plots are so magnificent, so complex, so challenging. And I think an audience likes to be challenged. I think they like when you watch a murder mystery, are you going to work it out before they do? Are you going to get it wrong? Are you going to get it right? I think that an audience likes that.
I also have to say that although it is a murder mystery. I think I'm certainly of an age where I don't want violence on my television. I want to be challenged. I want to be intrigued. And I think that's a big part of it.
Yeah, it's actually a very good easy watch.
It's an easy watch, but it's also a challenge because they're so complicated.
Yeah, I definitely, I feel like I kind of was guessing the answer to “who did it?” it in the first season, but the plot twists just kept on coming! By the end of it, I was like, well, I would never have guessed that at all.
No. Well, the same is true for series 2.
Oh, the insider tips. I like it. So on to series 2 – does series 2 pick up where series 1 left off, or is there like a time jump?
No, not a big time jump. It's fairly soon after season where season 1 leaves up.
Oh, nice. So, it's like a nice little bit of continuation. Does anything surprise you about the way Judith's character or storyline sort of progress in season 2? I feel like I'm asking you questions bordering on too much information could be revealed here, so anything that you can say without dropping too many hints, of course! We have to leave the people guessing…
You discover more on a personal level, about Judith's aunt – great aunt who left at the house. And then there’s a wonderful almost subplot when Judith is doing her daily crossword puzzles, and she is convinced that the person setting the crossword puzzles is trying to leave clues to someone else.
Her friends, Suzie and Becks think that she's completely mad and barking up, you know the wrong tree, but Judith persists.
Are there any unexpected twists and turns throughout season 2 that takes us down the path that we wouldn't quite expect?
Of course there are! It's a murder mystery, there are always going to be twists in the plot, otherwise it wouldn't work.
How we can expect this season to sort of develop? Season 1 was 2 feature length episodes, which was very digestible, but this one is a bit is 6 episodes I believe. Are they an hour long or are they also still like slightly longer?
No, no, no. I think it's six 1-hour [episodes].
In that case, then do they sort of all lead into one another? Are they more standalone episodes or is it sort of like a similar vibe to season 1, where there is like one overall story, but we just get some character development?
No, I think that there are three very individual stories. So, Robert Thorogood has written the first story, which is first two episodes.
And then [Julia Gilbert and Lucia Haynes] wrote the next two stories, but they will stand completely individually.
What can we expect from The Marlow Murder Club season 2? Is there anything that you personally would like the audience to look out for?
Well, I think there's lots for the audience to look out for, but I can't say more than that! We do have some glorious guest stars with us. So, in the first storyline [for example] we have James Wilby… everyone who comes in is spectacularly good—Tom Stourton is brilliant [and we also have] Caroline Langrishe.
Then we get Sam Womack, who I didn't know before, but because Sam used to be an uncommon name for an actress. We've always been aware of the other one being alongside – she gives a magnificent performance. And in the last storyline, we introduce Hugh Quarshie, which is a great treat, and an actor called Dominic Mafham, who I was at the RSC with when I was pregnant with my son. My son is now 32. And James Gaddas, who I was at drama school with!
So, these phenomenal actors come in, but because I'm at a particular age, most of them I've known before, which is lovely. They come and join our family.
It’s giving Midsomer Murders mixed with Agatha Christie, Father Brown, Sister Boniface, and, of course, Death in Paradise, so, get excited because all epsiodes will be available on U and U&Drama from the 19th March. Run, don't walk...
