New BBC Moonflower Murders cast with Lesley Manville and Game of Thrones stars leading new drama
by Mike Taylor, Mike Taylor · Wales OnlineThe new BBC series Moonflower Murders features a host of beloved TV actors and familiar faces, many of whom are playing dual roles. The sequel to the popular Magpie Murders, which attracted 6.4 million viewers on BBC One and BBC iPlayer earlier this year, is based on Anthony Horowitz's book.
Lesley Manville stars as Susan Ryeland, who is now living a very different life in Crete after her office was destroyed in a fire during Magpie Murders. However, her peaceful life is disrupted by an unsolved murder from the past, linked to author Alan Conway's book Atticus Pünd Takes the Case.
The first two episodes of Moonflower Murders will air from 9.15pm on Saturday, November 16, following the BBC News. Alternatively, all episodes will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from November 16.
The new series boasts a stellar cast and is set to attract even more viewers on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. This is what you need to know about the new cast of Moonflower Murders.
Who appears in Moonflower Murders?
Lesley Manville as Susan Ryeland
Lesley Manville reprises her role as editor-turned-detective Susan Ryeland, who now resides in Crete after narrowly escaping death in a workplace fire. Alongside her partner Andreas (Alexandros Logothetis), Susan is called upon to help investigate a murder at a British hotel amid concerns that a man has been wrongly convicted.
The BAFTA nominated star has also featured in The Crown, Maleficent, Phantom Thread, Mrs Harris Goes To Paris and Sherwood.
Timothy McMullan as Atticus Pünd
Timothy McMullan portrays Atticus Pünd, a kind and friendly 1950s detective from Alan Conway's fictional novels.
McMullan is a seasoned stage actor, with roles in Man and Superman and The Cherry Orchard. His screen credits include hit films like The Queen, Shakespeare in Love, and TV shows such as The Crown, Patrick Melrose, Grantchester, Endeavour and Foyle's War.
Conleth Hill as Alan Conway
Conleth Hill plays the role of Alan Conway, who was murdered in Magpie Murders. Susan, with the help of Alan's own hero, detective Atticus Pünd, must solve his murder by dissecting the clues he left behind in his final novel.
Although Conway has passed away, his legacy lives on through his novels. Susan finds herself revisiting Atticus Pünd Takes the Case to uncover the truth behind the mysteries surrounding the Treherne family and Cecily had been reading the famous Conway novel before her disappearance.
The Northern Irish actor is best known for his role as Varys in the HBO series Game of Thrones, as well as roles as Pope Gregory XIII in 3 Body Problem, Carlos Santini in Derry Girls and Edward Darby in US series Suits.
Daniel Mays as Locke/Chubb
Investigating Cecily's disappearance, Inspector Locke is less than pleased to encounter amateur sleuth Susan Ryeland once again on his case.
In the book's world, Mays reprises his role as Detective Inspector Chubb, who teams up with Pünd and his assistant, Madeline Cain, to investigate Melissa's murder. After crossing paths, Chubb proposes they join forces to crack the case.
With their collective intellect, can they unravel the mystery behind Melissa James' murder and its motive?
Daniel May has enjoyed a successful career, securing roles in Line of Duty, Ashes to Ashes, Good Omens, Des, Temple, Porters and Code 404. He's also featured in several films including Bank Job, 1917, Rogue One and Fisherman's Friends, and is slated to appear in The Thursday Murder Club.
Pippa Bennett-Warner as Madeline Cain
Pippa Bennett-Warner portrays Madeline Cain, Atticus Pünd's eager assistant as they delve into the murder of Melissa James. The actress may be familiar from Harlots, Gangs of London, Roadkill as Rochelle Madeley.
Will Tudor as Aiden MacNeil/Algernon Marsh
Will Tudor assumes dual roles in the new drama series. In the present-day timeline, Tudor plays Aiden MacNeil, Cecily's husband and PR guru for her parents' hotel, Branlow Hall.
In the book's world, Tudor embodies Algernon Marsh, the dubious financial manager to the recently slain ex-Hollywood starlet Melissa James. Coincidentally, Marsh was involved in a hit-and-run incident en route to visit the former star.
You might recognise Tudor from his roles in Game of Thrones as Olyvar, Shadowhunters as Jonathan/Sebastian, Mr. Selfridge as Frank Whitely and Barthanes Damodred in The Wheel of Time.
Rosalie Craig as Lisa Treherne/Melissa James
Rosalie Craig takes on the role of Lisa Treherne/Melissa James, playing the sister of the missing Cecily and the less than enthusiastic sister-in-law to Aiden in the contemporary storyline.
In Pünd's world, Craig portrays the murder victim Melissa James in Atticus Pünd Takes the Case.
Rosalle Craig has recently appeared in The Serpent Queen as Jeanne d’Albret, queen of Navarre, wife of Antoine and mother of Henry IV, MI-5, Macbeth as Lady Macduff alongside Kenneth Branagh.
Mark Gatiss as Frank Parris/Oscar Berlin
Mark Gatiss plays the dual roles of Frank Parris/Oscar Berlin, portraying both the difficult, snobbish guest at Branlow Hall whose body was discovered on Cecily and Aiden MacNeil's wedding day, and Oscar Berlin, Alan Conway's fictional film producer and one of the possible suspects in Melissa James' murder.
Gatiss has previously appeared in Sherlock, Nolly, The League of Gentlemen, Christopher Robin, Wolf Hall and Game of Thrones.
Pooky Quesnel and Adrian Rawlins play The Trehernes & The Gardners
Pooky Quesnel and Adrian Rawlins portray The Trehernes and The Gardners.
In the contemporary timeline, Quesnel plays Pauline Treherne, mother of Cecily and wife to Lawrence Treherne, played by Rawlins. The pair own Branlow Hall, the hotel where a guest was murdered on Cecily and Aiden's wedding day years ago.
Meanwhile, in the book's world, Quesnel and Rawlins play Maureen and Lance Gardner, hotel managers of The Moonflower, which is also the main setting for the investigation into the murder of ex-Hollywood star Melissa James.
Pooky Quesnel, known for her roles in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as Mrs. Phillips, Great Expectations as Sarah Pocket, Waterloo Road and Doctors, is part of the cast. Adrian Rawlins, who has appeared in Mary and George as Sir Edward Coke, the Harry Potter films as James Potter, Gentleman Jack as Jonathan Gray and All Creatures Great and Small as Charles Harcourt, is also included.
Full cast of Moonflower Murders
New cast includes:
- Lesley Manville as Susan Ryeland
- Timothy McMullan as Atticus Pünd
- Conleth Hill as Alan Conway
- Daniel Mays as Locke/Chubb
- Alexandros Logothetis as Andreas Patakis
- Mark Gatiss as Frank Parris/Oscar Berlin
- Rosalie Craig as Lisa Treherne/Melissa James
- Amy Griffiths as Cecily
- Pippa Bennett-Warner as Madeline Cain
- Adrian Rawlins as Lawrence Treherne/Lance Gardner
- Pooky Quesnel as Pauline Treherne/Maureen Gardner
- Will Tudor as Aiden MacNeil/Algernon Marsh
- Rupert Evans as John Spencer
- Thomas Coombes as Derek Endicott/Eric Chandler
- Joanna Bacon as Gwyneth Endicott/Phyllis Chandler
- Wade Briggs as Liam Corby
- Kostis Daskalakis as Vangelis
- Liam Garrigan as Leonard Collins
- Tim Plester as Martin Webster
- Kate Ashfield as Joanne Webster
- Jeany Spark as Samantha Collins
- Alec Secareanu as Stefan Leonida
- Claire Rushbrook as Katie Williams
- Matthew Beard as James Taylor
- Martyn Ellis as Edgar Schultz
- Billie Gadsdon as Roxanna MacNeil
- Mitchell Robertson as Jack Williams