Moonflower Murders cast in full as Lesley Manville leads BBC drama

New BBC series Moonflower Murders stars beloved TV actors and familiar faces - with many playing dual roles.

Moonflower Murders is the sequel to popular Magpie Murders which was released on One and BBC earlier this year to 6.4 million viewers.

Based on Anthony Horowitz's book, Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville) is living a very different life in Crete after her office burned down in Magpie Murders.

But her new life is disturbed by a baffling unsolved murder from the past and she must uncover the secret hidden with author Alan Conway's book Atticus Pünd Takes the Case.

The first two episodes of Moonflower Murders will air from 9.15pm on Saturday, November 16 around BBC News. Alternatively, all episodes will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from November 16.

The new BBC series has a stellar cast full of recognisable faces and is set to lure in more viewers on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. This is what you need to know about the new cast of Moonflower Murders.

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Who appears in Moonflower Murders?

Lesley Manville as Susan Ryeland

Lesley Manville returns as editor-turned-sleuth Susan Ryeland who finds herself now in Crete after she nearly died in the workplace fire.

While with her partner Andreas (Alexandros Logothetis), Susan is called to help investigate a murder at a British hotel amid concerns a man has been wrongly convicted.

The BAFTA nominated star also appeared in The Crown, Maleficent, Phantom Thread, Mrs Harris Goes To Paris and Sherwood.

Timothy McMullan as Atticus Pünd

Atticus Pünd is a kind and friendly 1950s detective featured in Alan Conway’s fictional novels.

Timothy McMullan is a prolific stage actor, with roles in Man and Superman and The Cherry Orchard. His screen credits include hit films like The Queen, Shakespeare in Love, TV shows such as The Crown, Patrick Melrose, Grantchester, Endeavour and Foyle’s War.

Conleth Hill as Alan Conway

Alan Conway was murdered in Magpie Murders, and it fell to Susan (with the help of Alan’s very own hero, detective Atticus Pünd) to solve his murder by dissecting the clues he left behind in his final novel.

While Conway has passed away, he lives on through his novels and his own legacy. Susan finds herself revisiting Atticus Pünd Takes the Case to uncover the truth behind the mysteries surrounding the Treherne family and Cecily had been reading the famous Conway novel before her disappearance.

The Northern Irish actor is best known for his role as Varys in the HBO series Game of Thrones, as well as roles as Pope Gregory XIII in 3 Body Problem, Carlos Santini in Derry Girls and Edward Darby in US series Suits.

Daniel Mays as Locke/Chubb

Mays reprises his roles as Locke and Chubb in Moonflower Murders. Investigating Cecily’s disappearance, Inspector Locke is less than happy to encounter amateur sleuth Susan Ryeland once again on his case.

In the of the book, Mays again plays Detective Inspector Chubb, who is investigating Melissa’s murder alongside Pünd and his assistant, Madeline Cain. After running into the pair, Chubb suggests the three of them work together to try and solve the crime. With their combined brain power, can they solve the mystery of who killed Melissa James, and why?

Daniel May has had a fruitful career, landing roles in Line of Duty, Ashes to Ashes, Good Omens, Des, Temple, Porters and Code 404.

He's also appeared in various films including Bank Job, 1917, Rogue One and Fisherman's Friends, and is set to appear in The Thursday Murder Club.

Pippa Bennett-Warner as Madeline Cain

Madeline Cain is Atticus Pünd’s enthusiastic assistant as they dive into the mysterious murder of Melissa James.

You may recognise the actress from Harlots, Gangs of London, Roadkill as Rochelle Madeley.

Will Tudor as Aiden MacNeil/Algernon Marsh

Will Tudor plays two roles in the new drama series. In the contemporary timeline, Tudor plays Aiden MacNeil, Cecily’s husband and PR maven for her parents’ hotel, Branlow Hall.

In the world of the book, Tudor plays Algernon Marsh, the shady financial manager to the recently murdered ex-Hollywood actress Melissa James. Marsh also just so happened to be part of a hit-and-run incident on his way to see the former star.

You may recognise Tudor from Game of Thrones as Olyvar, Shadowhunters as Jonathan/Sebastian, Mr. Selfridge as Frank Whitely and Barthanes Damodred in The Wheel of Time.

Rosalie Craig as Lisa Treherne/Melissa James

In the contemporary storyline, Craig plays the Lisa Treherne, sister of the missing Cecily and the (not so enthusiastic) sister-in-law to Aiden. In Pünd’s world, Craig plays Atticus Pünd Takes the Case‘s murder victim Melissa James.

Mark Gatiss as Frank Parris/Oscar Berlin

Gatiss plays both Frank Parris, the difficult, snobbish guest at Branlow Hall whose body was discovered on the day of Cecily and Aiden MacNeil’s wedding, and Oscar Berlin, Alan Conway’s fictional film producer and one of the possible suspects in the murder of Melissa James.

Mark Gatiss previously appeared in Sherlock, Nolly, The League of Gentlemen, Christopher Robinm Wolf Hall and Game of Thrones.

Pooky Quesnel and Adrian Rawlins play The Trehernes & The Gardners

In the contemporary timeline, Quesnel plays Pauline Treherne, mother of Cecily and wife to Lawrence Treherne, played by Rawlins. The pair own Branlow Hall, the hotel where, years ago, a guest was murdered on Cecily and Aiden’s wedding day.

Meanwhile, in the world of the book, Quesnel and Rawlins play Maureen and Lance Gardner, hotel managers of The Moonflower, which also just so happens to be the main setting for the investigation into the murder of ex-Hollywood star Melissa James.

Pooky Quesnel has previously appeared in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as Mrs. Phillips, Great Expectations as Sarah Pocket, Waterloo Road and Doctors.

Adrian Rawlins has made appearances in Mary & George as Sir Edward Coke, the films as Harry’s deceased father James Potter, Gentleman Jack as Jonathan Gray and All Creatures Great and Small as Charles Harcourt.

What is the full cast of Moonflower Murders?

New cast includes:

• Lesley Manville as Susan Ryeland
• Timothy McMullan as Atticus Pünd
• Conleth Hill as Alan Conway
• Daniel Mays as Locke/Chubb
• Alexandros Logothetis as Andreas Patakis
• Mark Gatiss as Frank Parris/Oscar Berlin
• Rosalie Craig as Lisa Treherne/Melissa James
• Amy Griffiths as Cecily
• Pippa Bennett-Warner as Madeline Cain
• Adrian Rawlins as Lawrence Treherne/Lance Gardner
• Pooky Quesnel as Pauline Treherne/Maureen Gardner
• Will Tudor as Aiden MacNeil/Algernon Marsh
• Rupert Evans as John Spencer
• Thomas Coombes as Derek Endicott/Eric Chandler
• Joanna Bacon as Gwyneth Endicott/Phyllis Chandler
• Wade Briggs as Liam Corby
• Kostis Daskalakis as Vangelis
• Liam Garrigan as Leonard Collins
• Tim Plester as Martin Webster
• Kate Ashfield as Joanne Webster
• Jeany Spark as Samantha Collins
• Alec Secareanu as Stefan Leonida
• Claire Rushbrook as Katie Williams
• Matthew Beard as James Taylor
• Martyn Ellis as Edgar Schultz
• Billie Gadsdon as Roxanna MacNeil
• Mitchell Robertson as Jack Williams