A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder cast, plot and filming locations – BBC’s newest teen crime drama explained
THE BBC have unleashed their latest whodunit drama, A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder.
This coming-of-age murder mystery sees rising star Emma Myers lead the cast.
What is BBC’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder about?
It’s the Summer holidays, but teenager Pip Fitz-Amobi is focused on an unusual school research project.
In Little Kilton five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell went missing.
Her boyfriend Sal Singh sent a text confessing to the murder before being found dead, seemingly taking his own life.
Andie’s body was never found. Case closed.
However, Pip isn’t so sure and is determined to prove Sal’s innocence.
Who stars in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder?
Emma Myers as Pip
Actress of the moment Emma Myers takes on the leading role of Pip Fitz-Amobi.
Speaking about her character, the young star said: “Pip is a very strong character, just so determined.
“The way Holly Jackson has written her in the books and the way it’s been translated on screen by Poppy Cogan was such a joy to play. Pip’s journey and what she goes through is quite a lot.
“She’s a completely different person from the start to the end.
“It was really fun exploring that.”
Away from A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, and Emma is best known for playing Wednesday Addams in the Netflix smash hit, Wednesday.
Before that, she shot to fame starring in The Glades.
Anna Maxwell Martin as Leanne
Motherland star Anna Maxwell Martin adds to the star line-up in A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder.
Asked what drew her to the series, and she replied: “I hadn’t read the book but my daughter had, so I was aware that lots of people were going crazy for it.
“When something comes along that your children are going mad for you do tend to have a little look and get involved in it.
One of the incredible things about Emma Myers is that she draws you in. I don’t know how best to describe her, but she’s so wonderfully enigmatic.
Actor Gary Beadle
“It’s quite nice that I’m in something they can watch rather than things that are inappropriate or that makes them cringe massively and hate watching me in it.
She went on: “Additionally to that, there are just really great, and creative people on board.
“I’d wanted to be in Dolly’s orbit for a long time so that was fantastic for me.”
Fans will also recognise Anna from Line of Duty, Bleak House and Poppy Shakespeare.
Zain Iqbal as Ravi
This is actor Zain Iqbal’s breakout role.
Speaking about how he felt when he got the part of Ravi, the actor told the BBC: “Quite emotional, and a relief as well. I had six or seven auditions, and obviously, the more you’re auditioned and the more they call you back, the more you get invested.
“You want it even more. In the first audition, you just treat it like any other audition, but then when they keep bringing you back, you want it more and more. So it was a massive relief and I’m really grateful.”
Gary Beadle as Victor
Former EastEnders star Gary Beadle plays Victor in this BBC show.
Speaking about working with Emma Myers, the actor said: “She was an absolute gem.
“One of the incredible things about Emma is that she draws you in. I don’t know how best to describe her, but she’s so wonderfully enigmatic.
“There is something about her that is very watchable. She’s perfect to play someone who comes of age during the show.
“That first kiss, those relationships with friends. Even an old goat like me can remember those days when everything is just so fresh and new.”
Fans will also recognise Gary from the Netflix smash hit, The Gentlemen.
Asha Banks as Cara
A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder is also Asha Banks’ biggest role to date.
Talking to the BBC about her character she said: “I play Cara Ward, who is Pip’s best friend, they are like sisters and honestly I think Cara’s just the coolest ever.
“She’s so funny, she’s really sarcastic and dry.
“During filming I spoke to Holly Jackson, who said she thought she was most similar to Cara out of the book characters, which made so much sense because everything that comes out of Holly’s mouth is sarcastic and hilarious and it’s kind of the same with Cara.
“Which is why I loved Holly so much and also love Cara.”
Before this show, Asha starred in Netflix series Rebel Cheer Squad and The Magic Flute (2022).
Mathew Baynton as Elliot
Gavin and Stacey star Matthew Baynton is also part of the star line-up.
Speaking about his character, he said: “Elliot Ward is Pip’s English teacher and Cara and Naomi’s father.
“He believes in Pip and wants to help her do well, and he’s attempting to be everything to his girls after they lost their mother.
“He is trying to hold things together for their sake. It is that complexity that drew me to the role.”
Viewers might also know him from BBC comedy Ghosts, Horrible Histories, Wonka, and Sky comedies Spy and Yonderland.
Where is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder filmed?
The show is set in the quaint fictional town of Little Kilton.
However, the series was filmed in the idyllic Somerset town of Axbridge.
Speaking about filming there, leading actress Emma said: “You want Little Kilton to seem perfect on the surface, like Twin Peaks in a way.”
She added: “We chose a town that when you come through the main high street, it twists and turns, and the houses are very bright colours, but it is surrounded by very woody hills.
“It feels very British but it has an edge.”
Other locations used included Redcliffe Caves, Redland and Westbury on Trym, as well as Avon Valley Railway Park.
The Bottle Yard Studios served as the hub for all production offices, costumes, props and storage.
How to watch A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
All six episodes of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder dropped on the BBC iPlayer on July 1, 2024, so you can watch the whole boxset right now.
Viewers in the US can watch the murder mystery on Netflix from August 1, 2024.
The series is an adaptation of Holly Jackson’s book of the same name.
The author was also heavily involved in bringing her novel to the small screen.
Speaking to the BBC, Holly, who served as an executive producer on the show, said: “I think the reason that A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder lends itself so well to a TV show is because the book is cinematic.
“I don’t start writing until I know every single beat and scene and can run the plot like a movie in my head.
“I think that’s why so many readers have been clamouring for an adaptation since the start.
“So, in a way, it felt like quite a natural translation to turn A Good Girls Guide book into the TV show, with all the big set piece scenes readers will recognise from the book, and new scenes or existing scenes envisioned in a new way to fit the visual medium.
Holly added: “All the characters we love, and the same story and plot twists are there from the book because I know readers are very protective and want to see a faithful adaptation.”
BBC crime dramas
The BBC is reopening case files on an all-star line-up of crime dramas this summer.
Here’s a refresher on the popular programmes which span six decades.
- Campion: Aired from 1989 to 1990, this detective drama series was adapted from novels by Margery Allingham and stars Peter Davison.
- Dalziel And Pascoe: A gritty detective drama series about a mismatched pair of policemen, based on the award-winning books by Reginald Hill. Aired from 1996 to 2007.
- Death In Paradise: A misanthropic detective inspector is assigned to a Caribbean island against his will. Premiered in 2011 and is still on air to this day.
- Happy Valley: Created by Sally Wainwright, this northern noir follows Sarah Lancashire as Sgt Catherine Cawood – tough, defiant and facing her traumatic past.
- Hinterland: Welsh drama starring Richard Harrington. Brooding DCI Tom Mathias uncovers secrets – and links to his troubled past amid mountainous terrain and close-knit villages. Aired from 2013 to 2016.
- Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Based on the novels of Elizabeth George, this drama series is about upper-crust DI Thomas Lynley and working class DS Barbara Havers. Aired from 2001 to 2007.
- Jonathan Creek: Starring comedian Alan Davies, this comedy-drama series follows a inventor of magic tricks who is often called in to solve puzzling murders. Aired from 1997 to 2016.
- Law & Order: Originally broadcast in 1978, this four-part drama series is about the British judicial system. Stars include Peter Dean and Derek Martin.
- Life On Mars: Beguiling science-fiction police drama following a Manchester policeman who travels back to 1973 following a car accident. Stars John Simm and Philip Glenister. Aired from 2006 to 2007.
- Line Of Duty: Created by Jed Mercurio, this drama follows the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anticorruption unit. Stars Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar, aired from 2012 to 2021.
- Luther: Crime drama series starring Idris Elba as DCI John Luther. Aired from 2010 to 2019, with a follow-up film released in 2023.
- New Tricks: Warm-hearted drama following an eccentric group of old-fashioned detectives. Starring Dennis Waterman, Amanda Redman, Alun Armstrong and James Bolam. Aired from 2003 to 2015.
- Sherlock: Benedict Cumberbatch stars a modern day Sherlock Holmes, teaming up with Martin Freeman‘s war veteran Dr Watson to solve impossible crimes. Aired from 2010 to 2017.
- Shetland: Detective drama starring Douglas Henshall, Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell, showcasing the dark side of one of the most beautiful places on earth. Premiered in 2013 and is still on air to this day.
- The Cops: Set in the fictional northern town of Stanton, this acclaimed, provocative police drama stars Katy Cavanagh, Rob Dixon and John Henshaw. Aired from 1998 to 2001.
- Waking The Dead: With a cast including Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston and Wil Johnson, this series follows a cold case team who unearths sleeping secrets, but sometimes the past is best left buried. Aired from 2000 to 2011.
- Wallander: Starring Sir Kenneth Branagh, Kurt Wallander is unable to unsee the dark crimes he’s tasked to investigate while Wallander’s job comes at a cost to his family and relationships. Aired from 2008 to 2016.