Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators | Series 5 Preview (U&Alibi)

Fan-favourite Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators are back with Jo Joyner, Mark Benton and Patrick Walshe McBride reprising their roles as Luella Shakespeare, Frank Hathaway and Sebastian Brudenell.

Created by Paul Matthew Thompson and the late Jude Tindall, the series follows an unlikely pair of private investigators, hardboiled ex-cop Frank Hathaway (Benton), and warm-hearted ex-hairdresser Lu Shakespeare (Joyner), as they work the cobbled streets of Stratford-upon-Avon, solving thrilling cases and murders most foul.

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators are back on the case in this charming comedy crime drama, working the cobbled streets of Stratford-Upon-Avon to solve more thrilling mysteries and murders most foul.

Grumpy ex-cop Frank and warm-hearted ex-hairdresser Lu have gone their separate ways. But all that changes when they’re forced to work together again, alongside their luvvie assistant Sebastian. A remote team-building retreat, paintballing and a corporate spy offers the perfect opportunity for our newly reformed gang to test their loyalties, until their client is electrocuted right in front of them.

An invitation to a Murder Mystery School Reunion reunites Frank with an ex-girlfriend, but it’s game over when the team find themselves trapped in an isolated mansion with a killer on the loose. Stratford’s annual ‘Horror-upon-Avon’ convention is rocked when a movie director is killed after reportedly being terrorised by his own creations.

But in their search for a killer, Frank and Lu find themselves starring in a horror movie of their own.  And when Lu returns from holiday to discover her house has been stolen, Frank, Sebastian and tech whizz Spider pull out all the stops to help find the culprit before Lu loses everything.  

But unbeknownst to our gang, something wicked this way comes… a saboteur hides in the shadows determined to destroy Shakespeare & Hathaway for good. Can our gang pull together in time to find the culprit before it’s too late?

In the first episode, Shakespeare & Hathaway are forced to reunite when they take on the case of a married couple in strife. Social Media Influencers Rina (Christine Bottomley) and Preston Shrewsbury (Andrew Knott) are about to complete their home renovation and unveil it to the world before they can finally admit they hate each other and divorce.

It’s been a trying time for their Social Media Manager, Curtis Minoff (Jake Kenny-Byrne) who is caught in the middle and weary neighbour Mr Gremio (Derek Griffiths). Preston thinks Rina is having an affair with Handyman Nathanial Tensio (Jack Trueman), while Rina is convinced Preston keeps trying to sabotage her. Fortunately for them Stratford’s top Private Investigators are no longer working together and so while Preston engages Frank (Mark

Benton), Rina hires Lu (Jo Joyner). But what has happened to our beloved team and why is Sebastian (Patrick Walshe McBride) so exhausted? Tensions rise on all sides and when Nathanial is found dead in the kitchen, Preston is arrested for murder by DS Keeler (Tomos Eames). Can Frank and Lu work together to find the killer before they strike again?

The new series will premiere exclusively on UKTV’s specialist crime drama channel, U&Alibi on Wednesday 24th September before launching later on the BBC and iPlayer. Series one to four are available on BBC iPlayer.