The BBC has given us a sneak peek at its upcoming crime drama, The Hairdresser Mysteries, and it looks like a must-watch for fans of Midsomer Murders.
Billed as a "nostalgic nod to the 70s," the six-part series stars Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones) as Lily Petal, a hairdresser who trades the hustle and bustle of city life for a charming salon in a country village.
© BBC/Mill Bay Media/Joss BarrattAs an avid fan of cosy crime, I'm eagerly awaiting the premiere. With award-winning screenwriter Jim Cartwright at the helm and executive producers like Will Trotter (Father Brown) and Oliver Kent (Sanditon) on board, this series has all the hallmarks of a comforting classic.
Read on to discover everything else you need to know.
Who stars in The Hairdresser Mysteries?
Sally Phillips leads the cast as Lily Petal.
She's joined by Charlotte Jordan (Coronation Street) as Clary Coombs, Lily's bright and analytical assistant and the "Watson to her Shear-lock Holmes".
© BBC/Mill Bay Media/Gary MoyesMeanwhile, Ben Castle-Gibb (You) plays eager cop PC Adam Watson, who falls head-over-heels for salon assistant Clary and Sunetra Sarker (Ackley Bridge) plays Wincey Evans, the village's local gossip.
Rounding out the cast are Clive Rowe (The Addams Family UK Tour) as Lonnie, the flamboyant manager of the local charity shop, and Guy Henry (Holby City) as Race Runard, the local village's eccentric antiques dealer.
© BBC/Mill Bay Media/Gary MoyesViewers can expect an array of guest stars to appear throughout the series, including Wendi Peters (Coronation Street) who plays Gloria Crudd, another newcomer to the village hoping to make a fresh start with her ice cream parlour but who soon finds her old life catching up with her, according to the synopsis.
What is The Hairdresser Mysteries about?
The series centres around Lily Petal, who "opts out of the competitive city scene to buy a small village hairdressing salon at the top of a cobbled street".
© BBC/Mill Bay Media/Khuram MirzaThe synopsis continues: "Everyone tells their hairdresser everything and soon she becomes the hub of her new village's secrets and revelations. Using her own brand of uncannily developed hairdressing intuitive, empathy and understanding, Lily begins to solve the mysteries of the village."
The Hairdresser Mysteries comes to BBC iPlayer and BBC One in July.
