Caroline Quentin Leads New 2027 Mystery Drama Last Resort (W/T)
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Last Updated on August 20, 2026 by Stefanie Hutson
Caroline Quentin, Tessa Peake-Jones, Jason Watkins and John Hannah are heading to the seaside for a new six-part mystery drama, but the pretty holiday setting won’t stay peaceful for long.
Currently filming under the working title Last Resort, the new series follows a group of longtime friends whose bucket-list holiday turns into an amateur murder investigation after tragedy strikes in a seemingly idyllic coastal village.
What Is Last Resort About?
Caroline Quentin (Jonathan Creek) stars as Gail, a retired librarian who sets off on holiday with her sister Joy, played by Niamh Cusack (I, Jack Wright). Joy has early-stage dementia, and the trip has been planned as one of the experiences on her bucket list.
Joining the sisters are their old friends Dee, played by Tessa Peake-Jones (Grantchester, Only Fools and Horses), and Charlie, played by Jason Watkins (McDonald & Dodds, Trollied).
Their plans take a decidedly dark turn when tragedy strikes in the holiday town. Police quickly decide the death was an accident, but Gail and her friends aren’t convinced. So of course, they do what any normal middle-aged British folks would do… and they decide to investigate on their own.
Joy’s daughter Kate, played by Bronagh Waugh (Ridley), joins them in their efforts, and the group soon crosses paths with DI Simon Lund, played by John Hannah (McCallum, The Mummy). Over the course of their investigation, older crimes and troubling patterns begin to surface. The apparently peaceful community of beach walks, pub lunches and familiar faces may have been hiding something much darker, and the friends soon realize they're hunting a killer with an extensive criminal CV.
Who’s in the Cast of Last Resort?
The series features some of the UK's best sixtysomething TV actors – including Caroline Quentin in the lead as Gail, with Niamh Cusack as her sister Joy. Tessa Peake-Jones plays their friend Dee, while Jason Watkins appears as Charlie. Bronagh Waugh plays Joy’s daughter Kate, and John Hannah rounds things off as DI Simon Lund.
The wider cast includes Cathy Belton (The Hardacres, Miss Scarlet), Chizzy Akudolu (The Woman in the Wall), Geff Francis (Midsomer Murders), Tadhg Murphy (Brassic), Jane Brennan (Hidden Assets), Conor Mullen (Blue Lights, Mr Bates vs The Post Office) and Jonathan Harden (Time, Blue Lights).
Also appearing are Ella Dacres, Simon Coury, Karyna Khymchuk, Nora Nagys and Robin Maher Kavanagh.
Who’s Making Last Resort?
The series was co-created by Samuel Kissous and Matthew Thomas. Thomas, whose previous credits include Marcella and Missed Call, is lead writer. David Turpin (The Ex-Wife, Girl Taken) and Rebbecca Wojciechowski (The Teacher, Silent Witness) are also writing episodes. Sean Ellis (Anthropoid) directs.
Last Resort is produced by Pernel Media in association with Peer Pressure and STUDIOCANAL. It marks Pernel Media’s third UK scripted commission for 5, following The Au Pair, starring David Suchet, and Missed Call, starring Joanna Scanlan. STUDIOCANAL is handling international distribution.
When Will Last Resort Premiere?
Last Resort is filming as of summer 2026, and is expected to air on 5 in the UK in 2027. An exact premiere date has not yet been announced. It's still quite early, so it's not surprising that we haven't heard anything about a US streamer – but with luck, we'll know more soon.
