Moonflower Murders cast: Who stars in the Magpie Murders follow-up?
The young woman vanished after a man was killed at their upscale hotel on the day of her wedding – and the key to the mystery lies within Alan Conway's writings.
At first, the retired book editor, who has relocated to Greece to manage a hotel with her partner, feels uncertain. However, when they present her with an enticing proposal, Susan decides to go for it.
Several well-known characters make a comeback, joining Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan.
Below, you'll find a complete list of the main cast members from Moonflower Murders.
To learn more about the cast's previous roles and the characters they portray, continue reading below.
Lesley Manville Takes On Susan Ryeland Role
Lesley Manville portrays Susan Ryeland in Moonflower Murders. Credits: BBC/Sony Pictures Television/Jonathan Hession.
Who is Susan Ryeland? She used to be a book editor responsible for the Atticus Pünd mystery series. Now retired, she is managing a hotel in Greece alongside her partner.
Manville noted, "What lies ahead in Moonflower is really surprising, especially for Susan. A couple named the Trehernes arrives at the hotel in Crete, aware that Susan used to publish the Atticus Pund series. Their daughter has disappeared, and to make matters more intriguing, eight years ago, a murder occurred on her wedding day at the same hotel."
Before their daughter went missing, she read "Atticus Pund Takes the Case," a novel by Alan Conway. She possesses crucial information about a murder that took place eight years earlier, which may have contributed to her disappearance.
What other projects has Lesley Manville participated in? She has appeared in shows and films such as The Crown, Sherwood, Back to Black, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Phantom Thread, Maleficent, World on Fire, Harlots, Mum, and Emmerdale Farm, to name a few.
Tim McMullan Takes On Atticus Pünd Role
Tim McMullan plays the role of Atticus Pünd in "Moonflower Murders." Photo by Nick Wall, courtesy of Eleventh Hour Films.
Who is Atticus Pünd? He is a made-up detective brought to life by Alan Conway.
"Basically, he’s facing death by the conclusion of Magpie Murders, or we realize that he’s going to pass away," explained McMullan. However, in the new story, Susan moves ahead in time, while Atticus Pünd travels back to a previous narrative. This means he’s actually younger than he was in Magpie Murders and in good health. That’s his situation in this story.
What other projects has Tim McMullan participated in? While he is primarily recognized for his work in theater, notably in productions like Twelfth Night and Anthony and Cleopatra, his film and television work includes roles in The Serpent, Endeavour, The Crown, Enola Holmes 2, Wicked Little Letters, and Foyle's War.
Rosalie Craig Portrays Lisa Treherne/Melissa James
Rosalie Craig portrays the characters Lisa Treherne and Melissa James. Photo by Jonathan Hession for Sony Pictures Television.
Who are Lisa Treherne and Melissa James? In real life, Lisa's sister Cecily disappears. In the story, Melissa is a film actress and the owner of the Moonflower Hotel. Tragically, she is also killed.
What other shows has Rosalie Craig appeared in? She has been featured in titles like The Serpent Queen, Bagman, and 1899, among others.
Adrian Rawlins And Pooky Quesnel Star As Trehernes
Adrian Rawlins takes on the role of Lawrence Treherne / Lance Gardner, while Pooky Quesnel portrays Pauline Treherne / Maureen Gardner. Photo by Sony Pictures Television/Jonathan Hession.
Who are Lawrence Treherne and Pauline Treherne? In reality, their daughter Cecily vanishes just after a man's corpse is found at their hotel, Branlow Hall, on the day of her wedding. In the novel, Lance manages Melissa's hotel, and Maureen is his spouse.
What other projects has Adrian Rawlins been involved in? He has appeared in Harry Potter, Mary & George, The Sixth Commandment, Slow Horses, and Dickensian, to name a few.
What other shows has Pooky Quesnel appeared in? She has been featured in EastEnders, Ralph & Katie, The A Word, and Waterloo Road, to name a few.
Mark Gatiss As Frank Parris And Oscar Berlin
Pippa Bennett-Warner takes on the role of Madeline Cain, while Mark Gatiss portrays Frank Parris, also known as Oscar Berlin.
Who is Frank Parris, also known as Oscar Berlin? In reality, Frank Parris is the murder victim discovered on the day of Cecily's wedding. In the novel, he is portrayed as a film producer who could be linked to the death of Melissa.
What other projects has Mark Gatiss been involved in? He has appeared in Sherlock, The League of Gentlemen, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Nolly, Dracula, and Wolf Hall, to name a few.
Daniel Mays Takes On Locke And Chubb Roles
Daniel Mays portrays Chubb in Moonflower Murders. Image by Nick Wall for Eleventh Hour Films.
Who is Locke / Chubb? A sleuth from both literature and reality.
Mays explained, "The 1950s plot featuring Chubb is actually a prequel to the 1950s storyline in Magpie Murders from the first season. We're revisiting the past, and this particular story unfolds in Devon. This is also the first time Chubb encounters Pünd, marking the very first meeting between the two."
On the other hand, for Locke, this story is a continuation of Magpie Murders. His character is pretty normal but tends to get easily irritated, making him quite hard to deal with. He’s akin to a grumpy bear, upset that Susan Ryland has returned to his space. This leads to some intense exchanges between him and Susan, played by Lesley Manville.
What other shows has Daniel Mays appeared in? He's been in projects like Line of Duty, Code 404, The Long Shadow, Your Christmas or Mine, Temple, White Lines, and Ashes to Ashes, to name a few.
Conleth Hill Stars As Alan Conway
Conleth Hill portrays Alan Conway in "Moonflower Murders." Credit: Sony Pictures Television/Jonathan Hession.
Who is Alan Conway? He is the writer behind the Atticus Pünd series.
"I'm thrilled to share that thanks to the prequel, I have the chance to portray Alan Conway once more," Hill stated. "We witnessed his tragic demise in Magpie Murders, which was the final book he wrote."
This book marks his third novel. In it, we follow Susan, portrayed by the brilliant Lesley Manville, as she revisits the story to unravel a murder and uncover a mystery. Just like in Magpie Murders, which features dual timelines set in the '50s and the present day, this one also weaves together past and present investigations.
What other shows has Conleth Hill appeared in? He has been featured in Game of Thrones, Holding, Vienna Blood, The Power of Parker, and Dublin Murders, to name a few.
Pippa Bennett-Warner Stars As Madeline Cain
Pippa Bennett-Warner takes on the role of Madeline Cain. Photo credit: Sony Pictures Television/Jonathan Hession.
Who is Madeline Cain? Bennett-Warner shared, "Madeline appears in the 1950s segment of the series. She serves as Atticus Pünd's new secretary. She's a huge film enthusiast and has a fascinating personality—very intricate and humorous. Portraying her has been an absolute pleasure, and I hope viewers love her as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing her to life."
What other shows has Pippa Bennett-Warner appeared in? She's been featured in Gangs of London, Chloe, Harlots, Sick Note, and several more.
Alexandros Logothetis Portrays Andreas Patakis
Alexandros Logothetis portrays Andreas Patakis in "Moonflower Murders." Credit: Sony Pictures Television/Jonathan Hession.
Who is Andreas Patakis? He is Susan's partner. Together, they manage a hotel in Crete, but things are going downhill, and they've exhausted their funds, which is putting a lot of pressure on their relationship.
What other projects has Alexandros Logothetis been involved in? He is most recognized for his role in "I paralia."
Will Tudor Stars As Aiden MacNeil/Algernon Marsh
Will Tudor portrays the characters Aiden MacNeil and Algernon Marsh. Photo credits: Sony Pictures Television/Jonathan Hession.
Who is Aiden MacNeil / Algernon Marsh? In reality, Aidan is married to Cecily and helps run the family hotel. In the story, Algernon is a con artist looking to take advantage of Melissa's wealth.
What other projects has Will Tudor been a part of? He has appeared in "Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light," "The Ipcress File," "Industry," "Humans," and "Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments," to name a few.
By providing your information, you consent to our terms and conditions as well as our privacy policy. You have the option to unsubscribe whenever you wish.
Moonflower Murders will premiere with back-to-back episodes at 9:15 PM and 10:20 PM on Saturday, November 16th, on BBC One.
Explore additional content on our Drama section or head over to our TV and Streaming Guides to see what’s currently airing. To catch up with your favorite TV stars, tune in to The Radio Times Podcast.
