Danny's Gone to Guadeloupe

Robert's competing for meat, Hattie's supporting Bremner and Lenahan's publishing a sequel. It's the post-DJ cast news round-up!

22 April, 2011

Of the many tidbits of cast news that trickled out over the latest Dimension Jump weekend - aside, of course, from the Big Four's intention to appear in the confirmed Series X - there was none more interesting, certainly none more jealousy-inducing, than Danny John-Jules's imminent filming stint to the Caribbean.

Danny is swapping the Sunbury pumphouse for the sunshine of Guadeloupe for his major role in eight-part BBC One drama Death in Paradise. The co-production with France Télévisions stars Ben Miller as a far-too-English detective investigating murders on the island of Sainte Marie. It'll air in the winter, just to really rub it in.

Danny is also set to appear in Compete for the Meat, the new Al Murray game show, alongside Kryten actor Robert Llewellyn. The self-explanatory format is based on Murray's don't-take-it-too-seriously Virgin radio segment. An eight-part series has been filmed for Dave and is due to begin in May, by which time most of the prizes not kept frozen will have gone off.

Holly actress Hattie Hayridge has signed up to support impressionist/satirist Rory Bremner on tour, along with jazz singer Ian Shaw. The 14-date UK tour, titled Rory Bremner & Friends runs over May to July. Fans who got a chance to sample Hattie's stand-up at Dimension Jump will attest to the fantastic quality of the comedienne's material - if you missed the convention, grab yourself a ticket. Listings and details here.

And finally, original Talkie Toaster John Lenahan is about to have his second novel, Prince of Hazel and Oak, published by Harper Collins. The sequel to comic fantasy Shadowmagic continues the tale of Conor as he returns to the real world and finds himself arrested for the murder of the father he left behind in Tir Na Nog. John's influences include Time Bandits and The Princess Bride - it's hard to imagine a more appealing pair of comic-fantasy antecedents. Harper Collins have the details.

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