Death Valley season 2 premieres on BBC One and iPlayer this weekend, but can egotistical actor John Chapel (Timothy Spall) and forthright detective Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) set aside their differences?
The duo were brought together by chance and proved to be surprisingly effective partners, cracking several cases and developing a genuine friendship along the way.
However, all their progress appeared to go out the window when Janie discovered, to her horror, that John had begun a romantic relationship with her mother, Yvonne (Melanie Walters).
Given the generally light tone of the show, fans have reason to be optimistic that the duo will find a path back to their old ways, but it will be interesting to see how their dynamic evolves in light of recent events.
Death Valley creator Paul Doolan teased: “There’s no reason why John and Janie should have any common ground, but they manage to find a way, just like the unlikely pairing of crime and comedy.
“There’s also a real leaning in to finding the joy in the darkness. As a crime viewer, I’ve had enough of troubled, grizzled detectives in the wilderness battling their demons. Just because someone’s dead, doesn’t mean we have to be miserable about it.”
Here’s your reintroduction to the Death Valley cast as season 2 comes to BBC One and iPlayer.
Death Valley cast: Full list of actors and characters
Here’s an overview of the main players in Death Valley, who appear across multiple episodes of the procedural comedy-drama – read on for more detailed profiles on each actor and character.
- Timothy Spall as John Chapel
- Gwyneth Keyworth as DS Janie Mallowan
- Steffan Rhodri as DCI Barry Clarke
- Alexandria Riley as Baxter
- Melanie Walters as Yvonne
- Rithvik Andugula as DC Evan Chaudhry
Timothy Spall as John Chapel
Who is John Chapel? John Chapel is a retired actor, who became famous for his starring role in British detective series Caesar. However, following the show’s finale, he retreated from the public eye to a rural home in Wales.
By chance, he’s drawn out of his self-imposed exile when detective (and fan) Janie Mallowan knocks on his door, asking for information about a recent murder in his neighbourhood.
The interaction sparks an unconventional friendship and crime-solving partnership, which was put to the ultimate test towards the end of season 1, when John began a new romantic relationship… with Janie’s own mother!
Spall said of John and Janie’s unique bond: “They have this unusual partnership where they are often both dismissive of each other’s work but also reliant on it and both, somewhat reluctantly, appreciate each other’s skills.
“They also get on each other’s nerves but secretly rather enjoy it. Bizarrely this strange mixture invariably ends in success, they often find themselves in this situation throughout the series, it’s something they can’t get out of, but when it is threatened – they oddly both protect it.”
What else has Timothy Spall been in? One of the UK’s most recognisable actors, Spall is coming off acclaimed turns in BBC dramas Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light and The Sixth Commandment. Previously, he played Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter film franchise, while he’s also known for his collaborations with filmmaker Mike Leigh – including Secrets & Lies and Mr Turner.
Gwyneth Keyworth as DS Janie Mallowan
Who is Janie Mallowan? Janie is a young and ambitious member of the local police force, who is promoted to the rank of DI (detective inspector) at the start of season 2.
She considered John Chapel an idol in her youth, having loved his performance on Caesar, but his many imperfections quickly become apparent when she met him in person. Their relationship is characterised by frequent bickering, but there is a mutual respect and fondness underneath all that.
When season 2 begins, she hasn’t spoken to John for some time, out of protest over his relationship with her mother, Yvonne.
Keyworth said of season 2’s plot: “As the series develops there’s an extra tension added into the mix when Janie meets her biological dad and that throws a curveball into their relationship in unexpected ways.
“Also, at the end of the series 1, we found out John is in a relationship with Janie’s mum Yvonne, much to Janie’s absolute disgust, so we pick that up again in the first episode. Janie is not handling it well, she feels some boundaries have been crossed.”
What else has Gwyneth Keyworth been in? You may recognise Keyworth from past roles in Doctor Thorne, Craith / Hidden, Defending the Guilty and Dawn French comedy-drama The Trouble with Maggie Cole. Most recently, she’s appeared in young adult adaptation Alex Rider and moving adoption miniseries Lost Boys and Fairies.
Steffan Rhodri as DCI Barry Clarke
Who is DCI Clarke? DCI Clarke is Janie’s boss at the local police station. He is a rather hapless figure, often saying the wrong thing or getting himself in awkward situations, but he generally means well.
What else has Steffan Rhodri been in? Rhodri is probably best known for playing the role of Dave Coaches in the smash-hit BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, recently returning for its final ever episode. His other credits include historical drama The Last Kingdom, fantasy epic House of the Dragon, true crime series Steeltown Murders and recent Welsh drama The Way.
Alexandria Riley as Baxter
Who is Baxter? Baxter is Janie’s colleague at the police, who specialises in crime scene forensics. She has a friendly relationship with Janie, often engaging in a bit of banter and jokey conversation to lighten the mood of their serious work.
In season 2, they have moved in together as Janie seeks to put distance between herself and her mother.
What else has Alexandria Riley been in? Riley’s recent work includes acclaimed sci-fi series Silo on Apple TV+, Netflix phenomenon Baby Reindeer as well as BBC dramas Men Up and The Outlaws.
Rithvik Andugula as DC Evan Chaudhry
Who is DC Evan Chaudhry? Chaudhry is another of Janie’s friends and colleagues on the local police force, regularly lending a helping hand on her cases.
What else has Rithvik Andugula been in? Relatively new to the screen, Andugula has previously appeared in Disney Plus sitcom Extraordinary and streaming film O’Dessa, starring Stranger Things breakout Sadie Sink.
Melanie Walters as Yvonne
Who is Yvonne? Yvonne is Janie’s mother, who cares greatly for her wellbeing, even if that’s sometimes expressed in ways that slightly irritate her daughter. Their period of estrangement, following Yvonne and John’s romance blooming, has been highly unusual – and she is keen to reconcile the issue.
What else has has Melanie Walters been in? Walters previously starred opposite Death Valley’s Steffan Rhodri in Gavin & Stacey, where she played Stacey Shipman’s mother, Gwen. Other recent screen credits include daytime hit Father Brown and children’s show Biff & Chip.
Death Valley season 2 guest stars
In a similar style to other mystery shows like Death in Paradise and Midsomer Murders, Death Valley will feature a revolving door of guest stars to populate its various cases.
Death Valley star Timothy Spall teased: “We’ve got some wonderful guest artists for the new series. It was great to work with them; some I’d already worked with and splendid actors I hadn’t worked with before.
“It brings a new energy and as there’s a new crime a week and a new location, it keeps it fresh – a bit like being in a theatre repertory company that constantly changes its programme.”
Here’s an overview of the many familiar faces you can expect to see in Death Valley season 2:
- Hammed Animashaun (Saturday Night Live UK) as Warren Medwin
- Jacob Ethan Tanner as Liam Jenkins
- Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous) as Polly Trevor
- Hannah Daniel (Keeping Faith) as Sally Morris
- Alexandra Roach (Nightsleeper) as Angela Vaughan
- Roisin Conaty (Last One Laughing UK) as Karen Hughes
- Mark Lewis Jones (Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials) as Gareth Merwin
- Ben McGregor (Henpocalypse!) as Joe Richards
- Libby Mai (Pushers) as Tina Bucknall
- Jim Howick (Ghosts) as Randall St Clair
- Leisa Gwenllian (Under Salt Marsh) as Olivia Whitmore
- Millicent Wong (Douglas is Cancelled) as Magenta Mei
- Louis Raghunathan (The Way) as 1st AD
- Camille Coduri (Big Boys) as Dawn Apsted
- Jack Parry-Jones (Hijack) as Emyr Davies
- Amit Shah (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) as Ashwin Shaw
- Ele McKenzie (Finding Father Christmas) as Chloe
- Rhiannon Clements (Small Prophets) as Minerva Maddox
- Lynn Hunter (The Tuckers) as Lowri Griffiths
- Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing) as Omar Sahni
- Tori Allen-Martin (Here We Go) as Amanda Sahni
- Zak Douglas (The Good Ship Murder) as Jack
- Gareth Snook (Taboo) as Nick
- Joshua McCord (Out There) as Aled Griffiths
- Owen Teale (The Rig) as Michael Mallowan
- Abby Vicky-Russell (The Power of Parker) as Gemma Mason
- Robert Wilfort (Gavin & Stacey) as Owen Skinner
- Ben Rufus Green (Deep Cover) as Andy Ashton
- Nadia Wyn Abouayen (Casualty) as Aisha Lanzetta
- Liz Carr (Good Omens) as Fiona Challoner
- Charles Dale (Bergerac) as Terry Daniels
- Mali Ann Rees (Lost Boys & Fairies) as Abi Michaels
- Gillian Elisa (The Light in the Hall) as Sue Dyer
- Ieuan Evans (The Light in the Hall) as Josh Daniels
- Rhodri Trefor as Dale Jenkins
Death Valley is available on BBC iPlayer. Season 2 premieres on Sunday 17 May 2026.
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