The Good Ship Murder
The Good Ship Murder is a British television crime drama series created by Paul Matthew Thompson and Mike Benson, set on a luxury Mediterranean cruise ship. It follows a retired detective-turned cabaret singer solving murders on board. It stars Shayne Ward and Catherine Tyldesley. The series began broadcast on Channel 5 on 13 October 2023. The programme was renewed for two more series and a Christmas special in 2024.
Synopsis
Former police detective Jack Grayling finds his old life intruding on his job as a cruise ship singer, when murders begin happening on board. With the help of the ship's First Officer, Kate Woods, Grayling solves a series of unusual mysteries, against the sunny backdrop of the Mediterranean.Each episode ends with Jack performing a song in the ship's cabaret lounge.
Cast
- Shayne Ward as Jack Grayling
- Catherine Tyldesley as Kate Woods
- Claire Sweeney as Beverley Carnell
- Geoffrey Breton as Piers de Vreese
- Zak Douglas as Jamil
- Vincent Paul Ebrahim as Captain Gregory Jameson
- Yuna Shin as Dr Sharon Tan
- James Barriscale as Captain Richard Marlowe
- Olivia Marie Fearn as Cecile Ray
- Olivia Fenton as Ella Jones
- Stephen Bradley as Evan O'Donnell
- Fergal Coghlan as Charlie York
- Kiza Deen as head of security Frankie Johnson
- Ross Adams as Colin Smallwood
- Bex Smith as Cassie Grainger
- Ellie Leach as Mimi McQueen
Production
MSC Cruises UK & Ireland Managing Director Antonio Paradiso said that the series "will bring the magnificence of MSC Virtuosa into living rooms across the country, giving viewers an inside look into life onboard one of our world-class ships." Channel 5 has hosted a number of programmes about cruises in the same 9PM TV slot, including Cruising with Jane McDonald and The Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World, about life onboard Seven Seas Explorer.
Much of the series was filmed in Malta. It was produced with the support of the government of Malta, through the financial incentives of the Malta Film Commission. Production was "expected to generate around 2.3m euros into the local economy, according to the Malta Film Commission."