Rapper-turned-actor Casey Walsh stars alongside Ella-Lily Hyland in the six-part dark comedy Tall Tales & Murder, coming to BBC One, BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer in autumn 2026. Adapted by Stuart Carolan from Caimh McDonnell’s 2016 novel, the series follows an unconventional nurse and an indebted car thief hunting for buried Celtic gold.
Stuart Carolan’s New Series Adapts The Dublin Trilogy
The dark comedic drama is based on the first entry in author Caimh McDonnell’s The Dublin Trilogy series of novels, titled A Man With One Of Those Faces. Scripted by Stuart Carolan—creator of the hit Irish crime drama Love/Hate—the six-part series blends a classic underworld caper with elements of 8th-century Celtic folklore involving monks, Vikings, and a priceless holy book. Co-created with Emmy and Directors Guild of America Award winner Chris Addison, the production was filmed in the Republic of Ireland as a co-commission from BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ in association with Screen Ireland.
Production duties are handled by Avalon in association with Ireland-based Metropolitan Pictures. The series is executive produced by Chris Addison, Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Aslett, Stuart Carolan, and Jon Thoday for Avalon, alongside David McLoughlin and Catherine Tiernan for Metropolitan Pictures. Caroline Norris serves as series producer, Gemma O’Shaughnessy is producer, and directing duties are shared between Chris Addison and Neasa Hardiman.
An Unconventional Nursing Home Duo and a Comatose Gangster
The plot kicks off at a quirky Dublin nursing home during the night shift. Bridget, played by Ella-Lily Hyland (Black Doves, Towards Zero, Silent Roar), is an unconventional nurse who entertains residents by reading bedtime horror stories, arranging late-night dances, and occasionally euthanizing patients who ask nicely. Stepping into this bizarre environment is Paul, a juvenile auto thief urgently trying to settle an obligation with criminal mastermind Ma Baker, portrayed by Philippa Dunne (Amandaland, Derry Girls, The Woman in the Wall). Hoping to secure legitimate employment to avoid jail time, Paul reaches out to his quasi-guardian angel: a grumpy investigator called Bunny, portrayed by Brian Doherty (Blackshore, Fair City)—alternatively known as detective Bunny Ryan—who uses his past connection with the Matron of Bridget's nursing home, portrayed by Aisling O'Sullivan (Raw, The Clinic), to secure a favor.
Paul is portrayed by Casey Walsh in his first television acting role, coming after getting a call from John Connors—who helped Walsh with acting and gave him his first role in a feature film, in The Black Guelph. Walsh recalled that John Connors told him, ‘Stuart Carolan is on to me. He wants to get you for an audition for a new series he has coming out’. Walsh grew up watching Love/Hate, stating that he would have been watching it and saying, ‘I’d love to be in that’. Stuart Carolan later called Walsh and told him, ‘Listen, I can’t promise you [anything]. I want you to audition. I can’t promise you’ll get the role, because it’s not up to me. It’s up to people in the UK and RTÉ – whoever’s producing it’, adding, ‘I want you to audition for the lead role’. Walsh went for the audition where Chris Addison, director, made him feel so comfortable.
I’ve been on a proper journey over the past four years. I met my partner, we found God together, and I’ve just been making the right choices in my life.
Casey Walsh, via RTÉ Entertainment
On Bridget and Paul’s first shift together, their nameless, previously comatose patient—played by Aidan Gillen, who is also known as Grinner or Grinner McNair—regains consciousness. He reveals himself as a legendary gangster and solicits their help by promising them a share of the booty, holding knowledge of a tall tale of 8th-century monks, vikings, and a priceless holy book. Alongside them are Bunny (Brian Doherty), a Gaelic games enthusiast and detective who does his best to watch out for Paul, and The Matron (Aisling O’Sullivan), Bridget’s stern yet affectionate superior. Also featured in the first look artwork and pictures alongside Ma Baker (Philippa Dunne), Grinner (Aidan Gillen), Bridget (Ella Lily Hyland), and Paul (Casey Walsh) is Wesley (Packy Lee). The series mixes a Bonnie and Clyde style adventure of bent cops, kidnapping, underworld fixers, and libido-enhancing horse medication bootleggers with the dilemmas of unconventional heroes and villains.
Broadcast Details, Global Distribution, and Early Renewal
The first look artwork and pictures for the dark comedic drama were published on August 26, 2026, ahead of its coming to BBC One, BBC One Northern Ireland, and BBC iPlayer in autumn 2026. A second season of Tall Tales & Murder has already been commissioned.