The fifth series of The Madame Blanc Mysteries begins on Channel 5 tonight at 9.05pm, with Sally Lindsay and Steve Edge reprising their roles as Jean White and Dom Hayes as the pair prepare for their wedding while fresh murder cases unfold in the South of France.
Jean and Dom Face Wedding Drama
The series follows antiques dealer Jean White, played by Sally Lindsay, who travels to the South of France after the sudden death of her husband Rory to discover what really happened to him. She soon finds herself investigating additional mysteries with the help of local cab driver Dom Hayes, played by Steve Edge. Their close relationship has developed considerably since the debut series, and viewers will see them begin a new chapter in tonight's episode.
A 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 in one of the show's iconic locations, Uncle Patrick hosts the pub quiz of the century at La Couronne, Judith and Jeremy face a heartwrenching 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."
Returning Cast and Guest Stars
All the series regulars are back, with Lindsay and Edge leading the cast. Co-writer Sue Vincent also features as Gloria Beaushaw, while Robin Askwith and Sue Holderness return as Jeremy and Judith Lloyd James. They are joined by Alex Gaumond as Chief of Police André Caron, Tony Robinson as Dom's Uncle Patrick, Paul Chuckle as Gloria's father Trevor, and Stephen Bailey, returning as gangster John Marsden.
Guest stars include Justin Moorhouse, Brian Capron, Lesley Joseph, Jason Manford, Michael Fenton Stevens, Su Pollard, Louisa Lytton, Frazer Hines, Bonnie Langford and Zoe Lyons.
Audience Reception
The programme has captivated audiences since its launch in 2021. One Rotten Tomatoes user wrote: "Absolutely fabulous mystery series! Lot the characters, the fun, the love, the friendships! NOT focused on violence and blood, but solving puzzles! Top score. Enjoy!"
Another viewer shared: "Love this show for several reasons: the characters are refreshingly different, quirky, and lovable; the setting is beautiful and is a character of the series in itself; and the writing/plots are also quirkily fresh. Hope to see it go on for a long time."
A third added: "If you're looking for gritty and dark murder drama this show isn't for you. To me its kind of a mix of Death in Paradise and Agatha Raisin, but also has its own thing going on. The mysteries are engaging enough, and there are some quite interesting twists, and there is plenty of humour mixed in along the way."
The Madame Blanc Mysteries airs on Channel 5 tonight at 9.05pm.
