BBC’s New Crime Drama The Last Detectives Is Drawing Comparisons With Shetland

Fans of Shetland could soon have another atmospheric British crime drama to follow. The BBC’s upcoming six-part series The Last Detectives takes viewers to the picturesque Welsh seaside town of Tenby, where two veteran detectives investigate a succession of baffling murders while trying to find new purpose in their own lives.

Led by Mark Lewis Jones and Steffan Rhodri, the series combines intricate investigations with friendship, dry humour and the challenges of starting over later in life. Each case unfolds against the backdrop of a coastal community whose tranquil appearance conceals disturbing secrets. The BBC has released first-look images, but a broadcast date has yet to be confirmed.

What Is The Last Detectives About?

Set in Tenby, West Wales, the drama follows DI Glyn Walsh, played by Mark Lewis Jones, and DS Sion Dearden, played by Steffan Rhodri. The two men are longtime friends and professional partners whose personal hardships have left them at a crossroads.

Their lives begin to change when Glyn returns unexpectedly early from bereavement leave. He and Sion soon find themselves investigating the murder of a respected university professor. What initially appears to be a single killing develops into a complicated case that takes the detectives into the more troubling side of the local university.

Once the first mystery is resolved, the pair barely have time to regroup before further cases emerge. One centres on a local head teacher who is poisoned before inexplicably drowning while wild swimming. Another involves a bewildering case of mistaken identity during a triathlon.

The six-part drama features three murder investigations, with each case unfolding over two episodes. This structure gives the detectives time to examine the evidence, follow unexpected leads and uncover the secrets behind each crime.

Their work is complicated by an unusual domestic arrangement: Glyn and Sion must solve cases while living under the same roof. Their long familiarity with one another could prove invaluable as they navigate complicated investigations, unexpected twists and the strain of their changing personal circumstances.

They are joined by DC Remy Jones, played by Bethan Mary-James, DC Neil Miller, played by James Bamford, and forensic biologist Pamela Thomas, played by Julie Graham. Catherine Ayers also appears as Chief Superintendent Melanie Morris.

A Detective Story About Friendship and Second Chances

Although the murders drive the plot, The Last Detectives is also concerned with what happens when people who have experienced difficult chapters in life begin searching for a fresh direction.

Glyn and Sion are seasoned officers rather than ambitious newcomers. Their years of experience have not spared them from personal struggles, and their partnership gives them an opportunity to rediscover a sense of purpose. Their shared history also brings warmth and humour to the investigations, offering a different perspective from crime dramas focused primarily on the mechanics of solving a case.

Welsh-born Matthew Barry, whose previous work includes The Guest and Men Up, created, wrote and executive produced the series. He is collaborating with Quay Street Productions and the BBC once again.

Barry described the drama as a story about finding friendship and meaning later in life through the framework of a police procedural. He also expressed his hope that audiences would connect with Glyn and Sion and appreciate Tenby as a central part of the story.

Quay Street Productions executive producers Davina Earl and Nicola Shindler have highlighted the writing’s combination of relatable characters, wit and warmth, alongside compelling crime stories. They also praised the casting of Jones and Rhodri, whose performances are central to bringing the detectives’ distinctive relationship to the screen.

Who Stars in The Last Detectives?

The series brings together an experienced cast of Welsh and British television performers. Mark Lewis Jones, known for The Crown, plays DI Glyn Walsh, while Steffan Rhodri, whose credits include Keeping Faith, stars as DS Sion Dearden.

The wider cast includes:

• James Bamford as DC Neil Miller, known for Masters of the Air.
• Bethan Mary-James as DC Remy Jones, known for Death Valley.
• Julie Graham as forensic biologist Pamela Thomas, known for This City Is Ours and Time.
• Catherine Ayers as Chief Superintendent Melanie Morris, known for The Guest.

Pamela’s forensic expertise will support the team as the detectives work through the evidence in each case. Meanwhile, Glyn and Sion’s long-standing friendship provides the emotional centre of the series, balancing its murder investigations with the personal challenges confronting its central characters.

When Will The Last Detectives Be Released?

The BBC has not yet announced a confirmed premiere date for The Last Detectives. The six-part series will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Filming took place in Tenby, Cardiff and along the South Wales coastline. The locations give the drama a distinctly Welsh identity, contrasting the beauty of the seaside landscape with the violence and secrets uncovered by the investigations.

The series is produced by Quay Street Productions in a co-commission with BBC Cymru Wales and has received support from the Welsh Government through Creative Wales. ITV Studios is handling international distribution.

What to Watch While Waiting for the New Series

Viewers looking for another mystery in the meantime have several options. The Island, starring Sorcha Groundsell as Family Liaison Officer Kat Crichton, follows a harrowing murder investigation and explores the human consequences of crime. The series is available on BBC iPlayer.

Another choice is Murder in a Small Town, which stars Rossif Sutherland as Karl Alberg, a big-city detective who moves to an idyllic harbour town hoping for a quieter life. Instead, he discovers that the peaceful setting offers little protection from crime. The series is available to stream on Netflix.

With its Welsh coastal setting, complex murder cases and a central partnership shaped by years of friendship, The Last Detectives is an intriguing addition to the BBC’s upcoming crime-drama line-up. Comparisons with Shetland will inevitably follow, but its focus on second chances and the lives of two experienced detectives gives the new series its own identity.