“‘JASON WATKINS ARRIVES IN A PICTURE-PERFECT SEASIDE VILLAGE… THEN A SHOCKING MYSTERY THREATENS TO TEAR IT APART’! Twisty New British Drama Is Leaving Viewers Completely Hooked With Its Dark Secrets And Jaw-Dropping Revelations”! Jason Watkins stars in a gripping new mystery that begins in a charming coastal community where everyone seems to know everyone — until long-buried secrets start rising to the surface. What initially appears to be a peaceful village soon becomes the center of a disturbing mystery filled with hidden motives, unexpected betrayals, and twists that viewers say they never saw coming. As suspicion spreads through the close-knit community, every revelation raises new questions, making it almost impossible to stop watching.👇 The addictive British drama viewers are racing to binge before the next big twist is revealed.

It’s rare we get to see stars from our favourite shows in the same series, but Channel 5 has just made all of our wishes come true. Grantchester’s Tessa Peake-Jones and Midsomer Murders’ Geff Francis are joining forces in ‘a superb whodunnit’ – the upcoming genius drama Last Resort, which centres around a trip to a (supposedly) sleepy seaside town.

The great British summer holiday evokes images of quaint pubs, dramatic coastlines and long walks (to name a few). And this is the vision Dee (Tessa Peake-Jones) and her peers probably had when they agreed to join their friend Joy (Niamh Cusack) on her bucket-list trip to the coast as she comes to terms with a dementia diagnosis. But their laidback trip suddenly turns darkly dramatic when a killer strikes.

Intrigued? With filming of Last Resort underway, here’s everything you need to know about the series before you tune in, including the plot, cast and release date.

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What is Last Resort about?

The upcoming six-part Channel 5 series Last Resort follows an old friendship group who gather in an idyllic coastal town for a holiday to honour their sick friend’s wish. Holidaymaker Joy (Niamh Cusack) has early-stage dementia and wants to tick the fun-filled holiday off her bucket list. However, it’s not all sandy toes and 99 ice creams for the gang – the dreamlike trip soon turns dark when tragedy strikes and police are called to the apparent accident.

Joy and the rest of the group – her sister, retired librarian Gail (Caroline Quentin), and old friends Dee (Tessa Peake-Jones) and Charlie (Jason Watkins) – are convinced the incident is not an accident. They launch their own investigation with the help of Joy’s daughter, Kate (Bronagh Waugh), and soon they happen upon DI Simon Lund (John Hannah).

The group of old-friends-turned-sleuths uncover long-buried secrets and crimes beneath the picture-perfect postcard of the resort. Together, they’re tasked with piecing together fragments of the bewildering twist-filled trail. But will they get to the bottom of the mystery and find a killer who’s been haunting the close-knit community and beyond?

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The series is a who’s who of murder mystery royalty – the lead writer Matthew Thomas’s credits include Marcella and Agatha Christie. And we all know and love Tessa-Peake Jones as Sylvia Chapman, the devout housekeeper of the local vicarage in Grantchester (pictured above), so it’s set to be a riveting watch!

Caroline Quentin shared her delight in leading the cast of Last Resort and praised Matthew’s engaging script. ‘I’m thrilled to be on screen with two of my long-time favourite actors, Tessa Peake-Jones and Jason Watkins,’ she said.

‘With the added joy of Bronagh, Niamh and the rest of this brilliant cast, it’s an unstoppable team! Pernel is producing some of the most exciting drama out there at the moment, so this is one to watch. Matthew Thomas has created something moving, funny and terrifying. It’s quite a ride!’ she added.

Who’s in the cast of Last Resort?

The cast of Last Resort includes:

• Niamh Cusack (Big Mood, I Jack Wright) as Joy
• Caroline Quentin (The Lazarus Project, Jonathan Creek) as Gail
• Tessa Peake-Jones (Grantchester, Only Fools And Horses) as Dee
• Jason Watkins (Dirty Business) as Charlie
• Bronagh Waugh (Ridley, The Stolen Girl) as Kate
• John Hannah (The Mummy, The Last Of Us) as DI Simon Lund
• Cathy Belton (The Hardacres, Miss Scarlet)
• Ella Dacres (The Bends, Paddington in Peru)
• Simon Coury (Intruder, Maxine)
• Chizzy Akudolu (Little Disasters, Woman In The Wall)
• Geff Francis (Murder In Provence, The Rise Of Skywalker, Midsomer Murders)
• Tadhg Murphy (Time Bandits, Brassic)
• Jane Brennan (Hidden Assets, Brooklyn)
• Conor Mullen (Blue Lights, Mr Bates Vs. The Post Office)
• Jonathan Harden (Time, Blue Lights)
• Karyna Khymchuk (Urchin, On Falling)
• Nora Nagys (The Last Duel, Gretel & Hansel)
• Robin Maher Kavanagh (My Battle With Blue)

How can I watch Last Resort?

Most information remains under wraps since they’re currently in the process of filming, but the six episodes are set to air on Channel 5 in 2027 (hooray!) – and we’ll keep you updated as we learn more.