In for the KILL

SAMANTHA BOND on returning to Marlow for more canny crime-solving

- CAREN CLARK

THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB NEW WEDNESDAY, 8PM & 9PM, U&DRAMA DRAMA (BOX SET, U)

Since its debut two years ago, The Marlow Murder Club has captivated whodunnit fans with intriguing mysteries played out against the idyllic backdrop of the titular Thames-side town in Buckinghamshire.

And when star Samantha Bond, who portrays shrewd amateur detective Judith Potts, joins TV Times in early February to share clues about Series 3, which begins this week on U&Drama, she feels spring is the perfect time for the sun-dappled show to air.

‘How many days of rain have we had?! This looks forward to blue skies ahead,’ she enthuses. ‘We had amazing weather during filming last summer - I had umbrellas up so I wasn't sunburnt - and Marlow is beautiful.’

Inspired again by Robert Thorogood's popular novel collection, the new six-episode run features three two-part cases for retired archaeologist Judith to crack alongside pragmatic dog walker Suzie Harris (Jo Martin) and intuitive vicar's wife Becks Starling (Cara Horgan) - with the trio still serving as civilian advisers to diligent cop DI Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew).

While the poisoning of Marlow's popular mayor baffles the gang in the opening investigation, the second story sees them delve into the murder of Becks' university friend, before the finale explores the death of a celebrity chef.

Here, Samantha, 64, tells us more...