The BBC and RTÉ have given audiences a first look at their upcoming dark comedy crime series ‘Tall Tales & Murder’ . The show comes from Stuart Carolan, the creator of the hit Irish crime drama Love/Hate, and Chris Addison, the Emmy-winning director behind Veep. The six-part series is set to air on BBC One and RTÉ One later this year.
The series blends a modern crime story with an 8th-century tale of monks, Vikings, and buried treasure. The show is based on the nine-book Dublin Trilogy by Caimh McDonnell. It follows a group of unlikely heroes who get pulled into a dangerous world of bent cops, kidnappings, and underworld fixers.
What Is ‘Tall Tales & Murder’ About?
The story centers on Bridget, played by Ella-Lily Hyland (Black Doves, Towards Zero). Bridget works as a nurse on the night shift at a nursing home in Dublin. She reads horror stories to the elderly residents, arranges secret late-night dances, and even helps them end their lives if they ask nicely.
Into her unusual world comes Paul, a young man played by Casey Walsh in his first television role. Paul is stuck stealing cars to pay off a debt to a crime boss named Ma Baker, played by Philippa Dunne (Derry Girls, Amandaland). He wants to stay out of prison and needs a real job. He reaches out to his guardian-angel-of-sorts, a detective named Bunny Ryan, played by Brian Doherty (Blackshore).
Bunny uses his past connection with the nursing home’s Matron, played by Aisling O’Sullivan, to get Paul a job at the facility. On Bridget and Paul’s first shift together, a mysterious comatose patient known only as “Anonymous” wakes up. This patient, played by Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, Love/Hate), reveals himself to be a long-lost gangster named Grinner McNair. He claims to know the location of a buried hoard of Celtic gold.
The treasure could solve all of Bridget and Paul’s problems. But they are not the only ones looking for it. A vicious gangster named Wesley Swanson, played by Packy Lee (Peaky Blinders), and his henchmen are also closing in.
“Tall Tales & Murder is storytelling at its darkest, funniest and most surreal.”
— Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland
Who Is Behind the Series?
The creative team behind Tall Tales & Murder brings together some of the best talent in British and Irish television. Stuart Carolan, who created the award-winning Irish crime drama Love/Hate, wrote the series. He co-created the show with Chris Addison, a double Emmy and Directors Guild of America Award winner. Addison is known for his work on Veep, Breeders, and The Thick of It.
The series is produced by Avalon, the company behind Breeders, Starstruck, and Catastrophe. They are working with Ireland-based Metropolitan Pictures, the studio behind the hit crime drama Kin. The show is a co-commission from BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ, in association with Screen Ireland.
Carolan shared his excitement about working with Addison. He said, “I’ve been a fan of the brilliant Chris Addison since The Thick of It – it’s been incredible fun working with him to bring this insane story to life.”
Addison also expressed his enthusiasm for the project. He said, “I’m frankly giddy with delight to get to team up with the twisted and highly original mind of Stuart Carolan to create this show. We’ve taken Caimh’s wonderful novel as a jumping off point and ended up with what I like to think of as a dark and delicious screwball drama.”
Rob Aslett, Executive Producer for Avalon, added, “We are delighted to be working with RTÉ, BBC and Screen Ireland and backing the very best contemporary Irish talent. Stuart’s brilliant scripts have created a wildly original crime drama that shines a light on a modern Ireland.”
The series is directed by Chris Addison and Neasa Hardiman. Caroline Norris serves as series producer, and Gemma O’Shaughnessy is the producer.
Full Cast and Characters
The show features a strong ensemble cast of Irish and British actors. Here is a breakdown of the main characters:
- Ella-Lily Hyland as Bridget: An unconventional nurse who works the night shift at a Dublin nursing home
- Aidan Gillen as Anonymous / Grinner McNair: A comatose patient who wakes up and claims to be a long-lost gangster with knowledge of buried treasure
- Casey Walsh as Paul: A young car thief trying to stay out of prison, making his television acting debut
- Philippa Dunne as Ma Baker: A crime boss who Paul owes money to
- Brian Doherty as Bunny Ryan: An irascible detective who helps Paul get a job
- Aisling O’Sullivan as The Matron: The head of the nursing home where Bridget works
- Packy Lee as Wesley Swanson: A vicious gangster who is also after the treasure
The show is based on the Dublin Trilogy by Caimh McDonnell. The books introduce some of Dublin’s most unlikely detectives and have gained a strong following among crime fiction fans.
When and Where to Watch ‘Tall Tales & Murder’
Tall Tales & Murder will premiere on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Sunday, 27 September 2026. The series will also air on BBC One and BBC One Northern Ireland this autumn.
The show consists of six episodes. A second series has already been commissioned by BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ. Filming for the first season took place in the Republic of Ireland and wrapped in January 2026.
For viewers outside the UK and Ireland, the series will be distributed internationally by Avalon. The show has already been pre-bought by broadcasters in other countries. ZDF in Germany and SBS in Australia have acquired the rights to air the series. This means fans around the world will likely get a chance to watch the show after its initial run.
What Makes This Show Different?
Tall Tales & Murder stands out because of its unusual mix of genres. It combines a modern crime story with elements of fantasy and historical adventure. The show’s synopsis describes it as a “Bonnie and Clyde style adventure” that also involves “an 8th century tall tale of monks, Vikings, buried treasure and a priceless holy book”.
David Crean, RTÉ Head of Drama, praised the project. He said, “It’s so exciting to be in production with this amazing Irish drama from Stuart Carolan and Chris Addison after a great development process. The scripts are fantastic, as is the cast.”
The show is part of a larger push by RTÉ to produce more original Irish drama. The broadcaster is set to deliver over 142 hours of original drama this year. Tall Tales & Murder is one of several new Irish series coming to screens, alongside the return of popular shows like Kin.
The series also reunites Aidan Gillen with Stuart Carolan, the creator of Love/Hate. Gillen starred in that iconic Irish crime drama, and his return to work with Carolan has generated significant interest among fans.
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Tall Tales & Murder brings together a talented cast and creative team for what looks like a fresh take on the crime genre. With its mix of dark humor, crime, and historical fantasy, the series offers something different from typical police procedurals. The first look images and plot details have already generated buzz, and the show is set to be one of the most talked-about new series of the autumn season.
The series will be available on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player in Ireland, and on BBC One in the UK. International viewers can expect the show to arrive on their screens through Avalon’s distribution network later.
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