EXCLUSIVE: Tall Tales & Murder, a comedic crime drama starring Aidan Gillen from Emmy-winning Veep director Chris Addison and Love/Hate creator Stuart Carolan, has landed a rare double-season order at the BBC and RTÉ.
Based on the Dublin Trilogy – confusingly a set of eight books – by Caimh McDonnell, the show’s plot is being kept under wraps. The books follow the interconnected lives and adventures of Paul Mulchrone, Brigit Conroy, and Bunny McGarry in Dublin.
Tall Tales & Murder will also star Ella Lily Hyland (Black Doves), Philippa Dunne (Amandaland) and Packy Lee (Peaky Blinders). Its other lead, Gillen, is best known for meaty roles in Peaky Blinders, Mayor of Kingstown and hit Irish drama Kin.
Tall Tales & Murder comes from Addison, who has won Emmys for his work on Veep and also co-created Breeders with Martin Freeman and Simon Blackwell, and Carolan, who created one of RTÉ’s most beloved dramas of all time. The show has been given a rare double-season order and cameras will roll on 12 episodes.
The show comes with the BBC working more closely with the Irish broadcaster. The pair are also adapting Marian Keyes’ The Walsh Sisters and Rónán Hession’s Leonard and Hungry Paul.
Starstruck producer Avalon is on board to produce in association with Ireland-based Metropolitan Pictures (KIN).
Addison said: “I’m frankly giddy with delight to get to team up with the twisted and highly original mind of Stuart Carolan to create this show. We’ve taken Caimh’s wonderful novel as a jumping off point and ended up with what I like to think of as a dark and delicious screwball drama.”
Carolan added: “I’ve been a fan of the brilliant Chris Addison since The Thick of It – it’s been incredible fun working with him to bring this insane story to life.”
Tall Tales & Murder (12 x 60’) was commissioned by David Crean, Head of Drama and Dermot Horan, Director of Acquisitions & Co-Productions, at RTÉ; and Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Commissioning and Jason Butler, Commissioning Editor, for BBC Northern Ireland. Produced by Avalon, in association with Metropolitan Pictures, Tall Tales & Murder is executive produced by Addison, Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Aslett, Carolan and Jon Thoday for Avalon, with David McLoughlin, and Catherine Tiernan for Metropolitan Pictures. Caroline Norris is series producer, Gemma O’Shaughnessy is producer, and Addison and Neasa Hardiman will direct.
