An Emmerdale favourite has joined the cast of a popular crime drama for its upcoming fifth series. Frazer Hines, who played Joe Sugden in the ITV soap, is among the new faces appearing in Sally Lindsay’s The Madame Blanc Mysteries, which returns to Channel 5 later this month.
The former Coronation Street actress is reprising her role as Jean White in the beloved detective series, which comprises seven new episodes, including a Christmas special. The show is set to premiere on Thursday, October 29.
New cast members revealed
“A dazzling line-up of familiar faces are heading to sun-soaked Sainte Victoire, ready to bring even more mystery and mischief to series five,” Acorn TV teased.
Among them are Phoenix Nights actor Justin Moorhouse, Coronation Street star Brian Capron, Slow Horses star Michael Fenton Stevens, Hi-de-Hi’s Su Pollard and EastEnders actress Louisa Lytton. They will be joined by Hines, EastEnders star Bonnie Langford and comedian Zoe Lyons.
Alongside Sally’s return, Steve Edge will reprise his role as Dom Hayes and co-writer Sue Vincent will star as Gloria Beaushaw. Robin Askwith and Sue Holderness return as Jeremy and Judith Lloyd James, with Alex Gaumond as Chief of Police André Caron.
Creator’s excitement
Sally shared: “Yet again Ste. Victoire has attracted some absolute stellar stars who have all been absolutely fantastic. We are so thrilled with this series and love that the world of Madame Blanc gets bigger and better every year.”
As the actress shared the news of the season five release date, fans were left celebrating the update on social media. One person said: “Excellent! Can’t wait!! I’ve just watched all 4 seasons again… it’s my go-to comfort show!” Another wrote: “Best News, love this show, all the characters are easy to love and laugh along with, long may it continue.” Someone else said: “Brilliant show so watchable reminds me of how Call The Midwife makes me feel when it comes on.”
Yet another echoed: “Brilliant. Love this series. I even watch the repeats,” as another added: “Can’t wait.” Yet another wrote: “I can’t wait I’ve just watched it from the beginning again.”
Plot teasers and return
The synopsis for the new series teases: “As Jean and Dom plan their wedding, nothing can prepare them for the unseen obstacles that crop up along the way. Over the course of the series, a dead body is found in one of the shows iconic locations, Uncle Patrick hosts the pub quiz of the century at La Couronne, Judith and Jeremy face a heart‑wrenching dilemma, and the bodies continue to stack up when someone is found foaming at the mouth in St Victoire Theatre.
“We witness the full, fabulous wrath of John Marsden, and hold our breath to see whether Jean and Dom will finally make it down the aisle. With even more mind‑boggling mysteries, murders and eye‑popping antiquities than ever before, The Madame Blanc Mysteries Series 5 will have you on the edge of your sun‑drenched seat.”
The cosy crime drama first hit screens in 2021, and has aired four seasons and previous festive specials. In a recent interview, when asked about the pressure to live up to fans’ expectations, Sally admitted: “I don’t feel that really… once we sit down to write the next series, we turn the world on again.”
Referencing her co-writer Sue Vincent, she went on: “We’ve got ideas from seeing things, we send each other recipe sheets of stories and antiques we’ve seen… so we keep that over the year, constantly, it never stops, on our phone or in a notebook, and then we type it out and give it to each other and the world just flashes back to life.”
She added: “I never feel that the world ever dies, I don’t feel it’s running out of legs or anything, I’ve never felt that once, I’ve always thought, we could go if we want. It’s very much alive in our heads and in our actors, the minute we all get together, it’s magic. I’ve not had that very much in my life work-wise, but this is some sort of magic and I’m very lucky to be a part of that.”
Series 5 of The Madame Blanc Mysteries will start on Thursday 29th October at 9.05pm on 5.
