Murder
and adultery in a new case for Adam Dalgliesh as Martin Shaw returns
in PD James' The Murder Room for BBC ONE
A gruesome
murder sets up a trail that leads Commander Adam Dalgliesh to the
House of Lords as Martin Shaw returns as the taciturn detective
and poet in PD James' The Murder Room.
The
two-part drama is classic PD James, where love and hate form the
basis of an intriguing case for the intellectual Commander.
There
is a family at war, a secret society for sexual favours that involves
lords of the realm and a murder case which mimics the crimes from
the Murder Room, a chilling exhibition in the Dupayne family museum
dedicated to the most gruesome real-life murders between the two
world wars.
When
the lease on the museum is up for renewal the three Dupayne family
siblings have to sign it, according to their father's will, or it
will be closed.
Adopted
brother Neville refuses and he becomes the first murder victim to
die in a grisly killing that is a replica of one of the exhibits
in the Murder Room.
A strong
supporting cast includes Janie Dee, currently to
be seen in Betrayal in London's West End, as Emma Lavenham, the
glamorous tutor the Commander met in Death In Holy Orders and whose
romantic relationship with him develops.
Michael
Maloney is Neville Dupayne, the adopted brother, a psychiatrist
who is battling hospital bureaucrats and government cuts. To him,
the museum is an unnecessary anachronism.
Nicholas
Le Prevost is Marcus Dupayne, a fierce champion of the
family tradition and determined to see the museum continue.
Samantha
Bond, taking a break as James Bond's favourite secretary,
Miss Moneypenny, is Caroline Dupayne, their sister.
Caroline
enjoys her luxury flat that is part of the museum building, but
she also has another secret reason for keeping the museum going.
Sian
Phillips makes a rare TV appearance as Marie Strickland,
one of the museum's volunteer staff, fresh from her successful tour
of The Old Ladies.
Kerry
Fox, who recently starred in Forty, is Muriel Godby, the
museum's receptionist and Jack Shepherd is James
Calder-Hale, the museum's curator.
Jane Tranter, Controller of Drama Commissioning, says: "The
success of Death In Holy Orders earlier this year confirmed the
public's appetite for intelligent and thoughtful crime dramas and
the enduring popularity of PD James.
"Martin
Shaw has brought a new emotional dimension to the enigmatic detective
and in The Murder Room we have an impressive supporting cast, complemented
by director Diarmuid Lawrence and producer Richard Broke."
The
acclaimed Death In Holy Orders was well-received by audiences and
critics alike.
The
Guardian said: "The BBC poured good acting like golden syrup
over Death In Holy Orders and served it up in two generous helpings."
The
Daily Mail said: "A wonderful gallery of veteran British actors...Shaw
has brought the detective right up to date …a satisfyingly
complex plot."
The
Murder Room has been adapted for the screen by Robert Jones and
will be transmitted next year.
It
is produced by Richard Broke and directed by Diarmuid Lawrence.
Simon Lewis and Sue Hogg are executive producers.
The
drama is filming in London and nearby locations over an eight week
schedule.
All the
BBC's digital services are now available on Freeview,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the BBC's eight television channels, interactive services
from BBCi, as well as 11 national BBC radio networks.
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