EASTENDERS star Jo Joyner has shared a major update on her hit BBC drama after fans feared it had been cancelled.
The Riptide actress will rejoin the cast of the hit TV series Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators series five as Luella Shakespeare.
Jo Joyner is best known for her role as Luella Shakespeare[/caption]
Jo Joyner with her colleagues Sebastian Brudenell (Patrick Walshe McBride), Frank Hathaway, (Mark Benton)[/caption]
She wrote on X, formerly Twitter, ” I’m so thrilled to be back filming one of my favourite characters yet! in Shakespeare and Hathaway series 5. I love playing Luella.”
Filming has begun on series five in Stratford-upon-Avon, much to fans’ delight, after two years off the air.
The actress will join Mark Benton and Patrick Walshe McBride, who reprise their roles as Frank Hathaway and Sebastian Brudenell.
Series four was the BBC’s second biggest daytime series in 2022.
Its average audience was 2.3 million, with nearly one fifth (0.4m) of its total audience coming from iPlayer.
Jo said: “I’m so excited to be stepping back into Luella’s bright and fluffy shoes! We have such loyal and brilliant fans who have been asking us daily if we’ll ever be back, so it’s wonderful to finally be able to say yes! I can’t wait to see Lu, Frank and Sebastian cracking more countryside crimes whilst squabbling fondly in series five.”
Mark Benton added: “I’m so thrilled to be making the show again. The reaction was phenomenal and hopefully series five will be even better. I can’t wait.”
And Patrick Walshe McBride commented: “I’m so excited to be back filming Shakespeare & Hathaway.
“We have so much fun making the show and we put a lot of love into it.
“I hope viewers will be interested in finding out what the characters have been up to over the last couple of years and will enjoy accompanying us in a new season of murder and merriment.
“Anyone for Earl Grey?”
Jo is best known for playing Jack Branning’s long suffering wife Tanya in Eastenders.
BBC crime dramas
The BBC is reopening case files on an all-star line-up of crime dramas this summer.
Here’s a refresher on the popular programmes which span six decades.
- Campion: Aired from 1989 to 1990, this detective drama series was adapted from novels by Margery Allingham and stars Peter Davison.
- Dalziel And Pascoe: A gritty detective drama series about a mismatched pair of policemen, based on the award-winning books by Reginald Hill. Aired from 1996 to 2007.
- Death In Paradise: A misanthropic detective inspector is assigned to a Caribbean island against his will. Premiered in 2011 and is still on air to this day.
- Happy Valley: Created by Sally Wainwright, this northern noir follows Sarah Lancashire as Sgt Catherine Cawood – tough, defiant and facing her traumatic past.
- Hinterland: Welsh drama starring Richard Harrington. Brooding DCI Tom Mathias uncovers secrets – and links to his troubled past amid mountainous terrain and close-knit villages. Aired from 2013 to 2016.
- Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Based on the novels of Elizabeth George, this drama series is about upper-crust DI Thomas Lynley and working class DS Barbara Havers. Aired from 2001 to 2007.
- Jonathan Creek: Starring comedian Alan Davies, this comedy-drama series follows a inventor of magic tricks who is often called in to solve puzzling murders. Aired from 1997 to 2016.
- Law & Order: Originally broadcast in 1978, this four-part drama series is about the British judicial system. Stars include Peter Dean and Derek Martin.
- Life On Mars: Beguiling science-fiction police drama following a Manchester policeman who travels back to 1973 following a car accident. Stars John Simm and Philip Glenister. Aired from 2006 to 2007.
- Line Of Duty: Created by Jed Mercurio, this drama follows the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anticorruption unit. Stars Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar, aired from 2012 to 2021.
- Luther: Crime drama series starring Idris Elba as DCI John Luther. Aired from 2010 to 2019, with a follow-up film released in 2023.
- New Tricks: Warm-hearted drama following an eccentric group of old-fashioned detectives. Starring Dennis Waterman, Amanda Redman, Alun Armstrong and James Bolam. Aired from 2003 to 2015.
- Sherlock: Benedict Cumberbatch stars a modern day Sherlock Holmes, teaming up with Martin Freeman‘s war veteran Dr Watson to solve impossible crimes. Aired from 2010 to 2017.
- Shetland: Detective drama starring Douglas Henshall, Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell, showcasing the dark side of one of the most beautiful places on earth. Premiered in 2013 and is still on air to this day.
- The Cops: Set in the fictional northern town of Stanton, this acclaimed, provocative police drama stars Katy Cavanagh, Rob Dixon and John Henshaw. Aired from 1998 to 2001.
- Waking The Dead: With a cast including Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston and Wil Johnson, this series follows a cold case team who unearths sleeping secrets, but sometimes the past is best left buried. Aired from 2000 to 2011.
- Wallander: Starring Sir Kenneth Branagh, Kurt Wallander is unable to unsee the dark crimes he’s tasked to investigate while Wallander’s job comes at a cost to his family and relationships. Aired from 2008 to 2016.
The 47 year old actress also recently graced the airwaves in the Channel 5‘s new thriller The Wives.
The new series will premiere exclusively on UKTV’s specialist crime drama channel, Alibi next year before launching later on the BBC and Player.
Series one to four are available on BBC iPlayer.
