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Timothy Spall's new crime drama filmed entirely in Wales

Natalie Grice & Ryan Leston
BBC News
BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway Timothy Spall in a waterproof jacket standing in the Bannau Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons. There is a lake or reservoir behind him and hills around.BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway
The beauty of some of the Welsh filming locations for Death Valley made an impression on Timothy Spall

When the former star of a police crime show moves into town, the local real-life detective can hardly believe her luck.

So begins the plot of the BBC's new comedy-crime drama Death Valley, filmed entirely in Wales, in which Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth pair up to portray an unlikely crime solving duo.

Wales has become a popular destination for film and TV production in recent years, but often stands in for other places.

The action in Death Valley, however, is firmly located in Wales - albeit in a fictional town - and embraces the country's culture and landscape.

"It's lovely to hear Welsh being spoken... It's kind of a celebration of Wales as well," said Spall.

Spall portrays John Chapel, the favourite TV character of Det Sgt Janie Mallowen, played by Keyworth.

Det Sgt Mallowen idolises Chapel after his TV show Caesar helped her through one of the darkest times in her life.

BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway Timothy Spall, as character John Chapel, seated at a table holding a document with Gwyneth Keyworth, playing Det Sg Janie Mallowen, standing leaning over next to him. Both look at the camera with interrogative expressions.BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway
Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth as the odd-couple TV and real-life detectives solving crime together

But she begins to discover that Chapel the man is not quite the same as Chapel the actor.

The show's writer, Paul Doolan, itted to being a "bit of a murder-mystery obsessive".

"I liked the idea of a TV actor who played a detective, and a fan of them, and the awkward relationship, but I couldn't really get beyond what else was funny about that.

"Then I thought 'what if they solve murders":[]}