Actor Timothy Spall is to star in a new comedy-drama series called Death Valley, the BBC has announced. It comes after the British star won the leading actor gong at the annual Bafta TV Awards on Sunday night for his role in BBC series The Sixth Commandment playing the teacher who was murdered by his former pupil and lodger Ben Field. Spall, who is known for playing Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter film series and starring in 2014 film Mr Turner, described the forthcoming drama as “unique”.

Set in Wales, Death Valley will follow the unlikely crime-solving partnership between John Chapel, played by Spall, 67, and Welsh detective sergeant Janie Mallowan, played by Defending The Guilty star Gwyneth Keyworth. John, a retired actor and star of hit fictional detective TV show Caesar, is united with Janie through the murder of his neighbour. In each of the six 45-minute episodes, the Welsh landscape will provide a backdrop to the duo’s murder investigations.

Spall said: “I’m really looking forward to teaming up with the brilliant Gwyneth Keyworth and the fantastically talented team of creatives and technicians on this new and unique comedy drama. “I’m relishing the prospect of getting stuck in as we embark on creating this truly oddball detective duo who develop their unusual combined eccentric skills to hilarious and surprisingly successful effect in beautiful rural Wales and its gorgeous towns and villages.” Jon Petrie, director of comedy at the BBC, said: “Th.