First Look at BBC's 'Tall Tales and Murder': Aidan Gillen, Ella-Lily Hyland Lead Dark Comic Crime Drama Heading to BBC One This Autumn
The BBC has released the first-look images for Tall Tales and Murder, a six-part dark comedic drama shot in Ireland and headed to BBC One and BBC One Northern Ireland this autumn, according to Variety.
The series was created by Stuart Carolan, who previously created the Irish crime drama Love/Hate, and co-created with Chris Addison, an Emmy and Directors Guild of America award-winning director of the political satire Veep. Addison also co-directs the series alongside Neasa Hardiman.
Tall Tales and Murder adapts the nine-book "Dublin Trilogy" by novelist Caimh McDonnell. The synopsis blends two timelines: a modern-day story involving bent cops, kidnapping, underworld fixers and bootleggers of libido-enhancing horse medication, and an eighth-century tale of monks, Vikings, buried treasure and a priceless holy book.
Ella-Lily Hyland plays Bridget, a nurse working the night shift at a Dublin nursing home. Aidan Gillen plays Anonymous — a comatose patient who wakes and reveals he is the long-lost gangster Grinner McNair. The cast also includes Casey Walsh, making his television acting debut as Paul, a young man stealing cars to repay a debt; Philippa Dunne as crime boss Ma Baker; Brian Doherty as detective Bunny Ryan; Aisling O'Sullivan as the Matron of Bridget's nursing home; and Packy Lee as the vicious gangster Wesley Swanson.
The production is a co-commission from BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster, in association with Screen Ireland. It was commissioned by David Crean and Dermot Horan for RTÉ, and Eddie Doyle and Jason Butler for BBC Northern Ireland. Avalon produces the series in association with Dublin-based Metropolitan Pictures, with Avalon handling international distribution.
Behind the camera, Caroline Norris serves as series producer and Gemma O'Shaughnessy as producer. Executive producers include Addison, Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Aslett, Stuart Carolan and Jon Thoday for Avalon, plus David McLoughlin and Catherine Tiernan for Metropolitan Pictures.
The BBC committed to the project with confidence. Variety reported in June 2025 that the corporation ordered two seasons outright — a straight-to-series order spanning both runs, meaning no pilot episode was required to secure the pick-up.
Filming on the first season wrapped in January, per Deadline. The series was shot in the Republic of Ireland and was first announced in 2025 before this week's first-look reveal.
For viewers, the draw is straightforward: a creator known for gritty Irish crime drama paired with a director who sharpened one of the sharpest political comedies on television, working from a beloved novel series and given room for two seasons from the start.
