Samantha Bond on The Marlow Murder Club

Samantha Bond, known for her strong performances in both film and television, is set to grace our screens once again as she takes on the role of Judith Potts in the highly anticipated crime drama, “The Marlow Murder Club“. Premiering on Wednesday 6 March, this two-part UKTV Drama original delves into the world of amateur sleuths as they race against time to stop a serial killer in their town.

When asked about what she liked about Judith Potts, Bond couldn’t hide her excitement. “Everything. This glorious, eccentric, thoughtful woman who is devising her own crossword puzzles in the first few pages of the script,” she exclaimed. Bond revealed a personal connection to the character, sharing a previous experience she had with crossword puzzles. “When I saw that Judith Potts was going to be a crossword person and a puzzle person I was immediately bewitched, and I do think that she is my kind of a woman. I think I would really get on with her. We would have fun.”

Judith finds herself in the midst of a murder mystery when she becomes an ear witness to a tumultuous altercation by the riverbank during one of her wild water swims. “She hears what she believes is a gunshot, which interrupts her swimming,” Bond shared. This encounter serves as a turning point for Judith, bringing her face-to-face with the local community. “It isn’t really until the murder mystery starts that she begins to meet members of the community, obviously Suzie and Becks,” Bond explained. “Suddenly there are two women on her doorstep, and she wants to talk to them because she wants to know what they have found out.”

One of these women is Becks Starling, whom Judith encounters in a rather unusual circumstance. Bond described the moment with excitement, detailing how Judith stumbles upon Becks hiding in a church cupboard, watching an episode of “Married at First Sight Australia”. “I think there is a sense of intrigue as to who this peculiar person is and then of course rather brilliantly does help,” Bond shared.

With the addition of Suzie Harris, a friendship blossoms between the three club members. “It’s a friendship that starts by accident. When she first sees Suzie, she is aware of more police activity and, being Judith, she suspects another murder. Then she attempts to befriend Suzie to find out what’s going on,” Bond explained. “Suzie’s great detective skills are that she deals with life like a dog with a bone. She won’t let go of something. She has great tenacity.”

One of the highlights of the series, according to Bond, is a hilarious sleuthing scene involving the three club members. “One of the funniest is when they are trying to get into a solicitor’s office. Judith is dressed up like her great aunt Jess in her great aunt Jess’s clothes and indeed in her great aunt Jess’s wheelchair. She is pretending to be this old lady,” she shared. “Meanwhile, Becks manages to burn a piece of toast so that the entire office has to leave the building.”

In the midst of solving the murder mystery, Judith finds herself butting heads with DS Malik, played by Sarah Collier. “I don’t think that DS Malik likes Judith very much at first. I think she thinks she is an interfering old woman, which indeed she is,” Bond said. “But as the story goes on, there becomes this mutual respect between them.”

Bond’s recent guest appearance in an episode of “Death in Paradise” has given her a taste of the murder mystery genre. When asked to compare the two, she noted the differences. “Well, quite different. I had a great time in Guadeloupe but most of the great time was on my days off,” Bond confessed. “We would go on speedboats around the lagoons. The most beautiful botanical gardens as well. It is a beautiful place to go.”

The viewers can also expect some comedic moments in “The Marlow Murder Club”. Bond mentioned a funny scene where Judith struggles with Animoji on her phone. “It confounds me constantly. It’s another great thing that Judith and I have in common. When we shot that scene, and she keeps accidentally turning herself into an animal, you film it live,” she shared.

The uniqueness of “The Marlow Murder Club” lies in its four principal women who not only solve a murder mystery but also share a strong friendship. “It’s a lovely series because what Robert Thorogood does is incredibly intricate and beautifully structured and in amongst that there’s humor and warmth from the very strong friendship between these women. It’s very moving as well as being funny and a murder mystery,” Bond explained.

As for the future, Bond expressed her hopes for a potential sequel. When asked if she had read “Death Comes to Marlow”, she replied, “I haven’t yet. Fingers crossed that we will return.” With Bond’s captivating performance as Judith Potts, viewers can expect to be drawn into the world of amateur detective work, humor, and friendship in “The Marlow Murder Club”.

The Marlow Murder Club premieres Wednesday 6 March on UKTV Drama.