BBC, RTÉ back Irish comedic crime drama Tall Tales & Murder with two-season order

Ella Lily Hyland and Aidan Gillen lead the cast

The BBC in the UK and RTÉ in Ireland have co-commissioned two seasons of Tall Tales & Murder, based on the eight-book Dublin Trilogy by Caimh McDonnell.

BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ are both on board two six-part seasons (12×60′) of the show, which is produced by Avalon (Breeders) in association with Ireland-based Metropolitan Pictures (Kin).

Made with Screen Ireland and distributed by internationally by Avalon, Tall Tales & Murder is written by Stuart Carolan, writer and creator of RTÉ crime drama Love/Hate, who co-created it with Chris Addison (Veep).

Described as a darkly comedic crime drama, it will star Ella Lily Hyland (Black Doves), Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones), Philippa Dunne (Amandaland) and Packy Lee (Peaky Blinders). Filming began this week in the Republic of Ireland, with the first season set to premiere in 2026.

David Crean, head of drama at RTÉ, said: “Tall Tales & Murder is part of an unprecedented slate of original Irish drama in production from RTÉ, which will deliver over 142 hours of original drama this year.”

Eddie Doyle, head of content commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland, added: “Tall Tales & Murder is storytelling at its darkest, funniest and most surreal.”

Rob Aslett, executive producer for Avalon, said the series will be a “wildly original crime drama that shines a light on a modern Ireland.”

It was commissioned by Doyle and Crean alongside Dermot Horan, director of acquisitions and coproductions at RTÉ, and Jason Butler, commissioning editor for BBC Northern Ireland.

The executive producers are Addison, Richard Allen-Turner, 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.