The hit series, first launched in 2018, is returning for its highly anticipated fifth season in just days, and viewers are already buzzing. With its perfect blend of cosy mystery, comedy, and crime, the show follows Jo Joyner and Mark Benton as a mismatched pair of private detectives chasing down secrets in the shadowy corners of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Hailed as “addictive” and boasting an 89% Rotten Tomatoes score, this sleeper-hit is now stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight. The only question is: will this be the case that finally puts it in the same league as TV’s most legendary detective dramas?

By Grok Entertainment Desk | September 21, 2025

Autumn leaves crunch underfoot in Stratford-upon-Avon, the air crisp with the scent of impending rain and the faint echo of Elizabethan ghosts. It’s the perfect setting for a murder — or, in the case of Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, a delightfully twisty one laced with puns, pratfalls, and poignant heart. On September 24, 2025, at 8pm on U&Alibi, the unlikeliest detective duo in British telly history returns for their fifth season, and if the buzz is anything to go by, it’s set to crack the code on cozy crime once and for all. Frank Hathaway (Mark Benton), the rumpled ex-copper with a penchant for poetry and poor decisions, and Luella Shakespeare (Jo Joyner), the sunny ex-hairdresser turned sleuth with a nose for nonsense, are back in business. Teamed with their flamboyant assistant Sebastian Brudenell (Patrick Walshe McBride), they’ll navigate a fresh batch of Bard-inspired bafflers: blackmailing bards, ghostly goings-on, and a superhero-suited slayer stalking the Avon.

Fans have waited three long years since Season 4’s explosive finale — a pub bomb that left more questions than casualties — and the anticipation is palpable. “It’s like waiting for a Shakespearean soliloquy in a rom-com,” tweeted @CozyCrimeQueen just days ago, her post racking up 2,000 likes in hours. With an 89% Rotten Tomatoes score across seasons, glowing reviews calling it “addictive escapism” from The Guardian, and a global cult following on BritBox and Acorn TV, Shakespeare & Hathaway isn’t just returning — it’s roaring back sooner than anyone dared hope. Filming wrapped in early 2025, a brisk timeline that has insiders whispering of BBC pressure to capitalize on the cozy crime boom. But is this the season that catapults it past Midsomer Murders in the pantheon of pint-sized puzzles? Or will it remain the Bard’s best-kept secret? In this deep dive, we unravel the show’s Bardic brilliance, the duo’s dynamic, the dark twists awaiting in Season 5, and why this unassuming gem deserves a standing ovation. Lights up, curtain call — the investigation begins.

The Bardic Birth: How Shakespeare & Hathaway Became Britain’s Coziest Crime Sensation

It all started in 2018, in the shadow of the Bard’s birthplace, where creators Paul Matthew Thompson and the late Jude Tindall (who tragically passed in 2024) dreamed up a detective drama that traded gritty forensics for gleeful farce. Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators premiered on BBC One as a daytime darling, airing in the slot once dominated by soaps and slow-burn soaps. But from its opening episode — “The Chimes at Midnight,” where Frank bungles a surveillance gig involving a dodgy online fiancé — it hooked viewers with its irreverent charm. Set in the honey-stoned streets of Stratford-upon-Avon, the show weaves Shakespearean Easter eggs into every plot: Episode titles like “The Curse of Cranham Hall” nod to Hamlet‘s hauntings, while suspects spout sonnets amid the skulduggery.

The formula? Cozy crime with a comedic kick. No graphic gore here — murders are mercifully off-screen, replaced by red herrings as colorful as a Tudor tapestry. Frank, a debt-ridden PI nursing a divorce and a fondness for falconry, clashes gloriously with Luella, whose hairdressing past equips her with uncanny intuition (and a killer blow-dryer disguise or two). Their agency, a poky office above a costumier’s, is a hotbed of hijinks, staffed by Sebastian, the aspiring actor whose disguises range from dodgy vicar to tipsy tourist. “It’s Midsomer Murders meets The Goodies,” quipped Radio Times in its 2018 review, praising the show’s “effortless blend of wit and whimsy.”

Word-of-mouth spread like wildfire. By Season 2 (2019), viewership hit 2.5 million per episode, making it BBC Daytime’s top drama. Seasons 3 and 4 (2021 and 2022) leaned harder into the lore: Luella’s family secrets unraveled in “Much Ado About Nothing,” while Frank’s past as a bent copper bubbled up in “Ill Met by Moonlight.” The pandemic pause only amplified the hunger; Reddit’s r/CozyMysteries subreddit dedicated threads to rewatches, with one user confessing, “It’s my comfort food — tea, twists, and no one dies too gruesomely.” Internationally, it conquered Acorn TV in the US and BritBox Down Under, earning an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes for its “charming character work and clever plotting.” Critics were slower to the party — The Telegraph once sniped at its “clichéd cliches” — but even they conceded: “Benton and Joyner make it sing.”

By 2022’s finale, a cliffhanger bomb at the Mucky Mallard pub had Frank and Luella reeling, Sebastian vanishing in the smoke. Fans rioted online: Petitions on Change.org garnered 15,000 signatures, and #SaveShakesHath trended on X for a week. The BBC, sensing gold, greenlit Season 5 in late 2024 — filming kicked off in January 2025, a record turnaround. “We couldn’t leave them hanging,” said commissioner Helen Munson. Now, with U&Alibi snagging premiere rights (BBC and iPlayer follow in October), it’s poised for a stateside splash on PBS Masterpiece. Better than Midsomer? In its lighter touch and laugh-out-loud lines, many say yes.

The Unlikely Duo: Jo Joyner and Mark Benton’s Chemistry That Cracks Every Case

At the heart of Shakespeare & Hathaway‘s allure is the electric mismatch of Frank and Luella — and the actors who breathe life into them. Jo Joyner, 47, best known as EastEnders’ Tanya Branning, brings bubbly buoyancy to Luella. A former stylist with a heart of gold and a handbag full of hunches, Luella’s optimism is her superpower: She deciphers clues through chit-chat and charm, turning suspects into confidantes over cream tea. “Luella’s my spirit animal,” Joyner told Hello! Magazine in a 2024 interview. “She’s resilient, ridiculous, and refuses to let the gloom win. In dark times, we need that.” Off-screen, Joyner’s warmth mirrors her role; she’s a mum of two, an advocate for body positivity, and credits the show with reigniting her comedy chops post-soap. “Filming in Stratford feels like home — the fans wave from the streets!” she laughed.

Enter Mark Benton, 64, the gravel-voiced Geordie whose CV spans Doctor Who to Waterloo Road. As Frank, he’s the yin to Luella’s yang: A cynical ex-DI haunted by a botched case that cost a life (and his marriage), he drowns sorrows in ale and allusions, quoting Macbeth mid-meltdown. Benton’s portrayal is pitch-perfect pathos — gruff exterior cracking to reveal a softie who knits (yes, really) and adores his pet falcon, Caliban. “Frank’s a lovable loser,” Benton shared in a British Comedy Guide chat. “He’s me if I’d stayed in the force — flawed, funny, fighting for redemption.” A stage veteran (he originated Billy Elliot‘s dad), Benton’s improv flair shines in the duo’s banter: “Jo and I ad-lib like old mates,” he revealed. “One take, I called her ‘Lady Macbeth’ — it stayed in!”

Their chemistry? Sizzling sibling-rivalry meets screwball sparkle. Joyner and Benton met pre-pilot, bonding over shared disdain for “miserable procedurals.” “Mark’s timing is impeccable,” Joyner gushed in a 2019 Q&A. “We squabble on set, solve on screen — it’s magic.” Benton concurs: “Jo’s positivity pulls Frank — and me — from the pit. We’re family now.” Fans ship it platonically; X threads abound with “Frankella” fan art, though the show wisely keeps romance off the table. “Their friendship’s the real love story,” tweeted @BardicSleuth, echoing a sentiment that’s kept the series fresh across 40 episodes.

Supporting them is the scene-stealing Sebastian, played by Patrick Walshe McBride. The RADA-trained thespian’s disguises — from Elizabethan extra to eco-warrior — add farce, while his unrequited crush on Luella fuels heartfelt hijinks. “Sebastian’s my chaotic child,” McBride joked in a 2025 Radio Times feature. “He dreams big in a small town — just like Stratford.” Recurring gems like DS Joe Keeler (Tomos Eames), the beleaguered copper who begrudgingly aids (and arrests) the duo, round out the rep company, ensuring every episode feels like a reunion.

Season 5 Scoop: Dark Twists, Bardic Bafflers, and Bombshells That’ll Leave You Speechless

Forget the three-year wait — Season 5 drops like a plot twist from Othello, packed with six 45-minute episodes of escalating eccentricity. Premiering September 24 on U&Alibi (with on-demand via Sky and NOW), it picks up post-explosion: Frank’s nursing bruises and grudges, Luella’s plotting a relaunch party, and Sebastian’s surfaced with a suspiciously singed script. “The bomb was a wake-up call,” teases showrunner Paul Matthew Thompson in a Geektown exclusive. “This season, their agency’s on the brink — debts deeper than the Avon, rivals sharper than a stiletto. But love (and laughter) conquers all.”

Episode teases drip with delight: Opener “The Tempestuous Tenant” sees a landlord’s “accidental” electrocution spark a feud over a haunted flat — cue ghostly gadgets and a suspect in drag. “Much Ado About Matrimony” reunites Frank and Lu with a bickering bride-to-be, unearthing bigamy and buried treasure amid wedding woes. Darker turns beckon: “The Winter’s Tale of Woe” plunges into blackmail targeting DS Keeler, forcing an uneasy alliance. “Expect moral mazes,” hints Joyner. “Luella questions trust; Frank faces his past head-on.” And that superhero slayer? “The Masked Marauder” episode unleashes a caped crusader turned killer at a comic con, with Sebastian geeking out in cosplay chaos.

Twists abound: Luella’s ex-husband Clive (Jamie Glover) returns with a secret son, rattling her resolve. Frank’s old nemesis, “The Voice in the Dark,” resurfaces as a cyber-stalker, blending tech terror with Tudor trickery. Guest stars tease treats: Doctor Who‘s Alex Kingston as a scheming scholar, The Crown‘s Bertie Carvel as a Machiavellian magistrate. “We’ve amped the stakes,” says Benton. “More heart, more hurt — but always with a wink.” Filmed amid Stratford’s spring blooms and Worcestershire’s wilds (shoutout to Redditch FC for pitch-side peril), it’s a visual valentine to the Bard’s backyard.

The wait’s end? A production miracle. Post-2022, cast commitments (Joyner’s The Wives, Benton’s Inside No. 9) delayed scripts. Tindall’s death hit hard — “Jude’s spirit infuses every line,” Thompson shared — but fan fervor (that 2023 petition!) sealed the deal. “We filmed in 120 days — a record,” boasts producer Caroline Slater. Now, with Alibi’s exclusive bow, it’s binge-ready by month’s end.

Critical Acclaim and Fan Frenzy: Why 89% on Rotten Tomatoes Means Must-Watch TV

Shakespeare & Hathaway didn’t court critics with Cannes swagger; it won them with warmth. Aggregating to 89% on Rotten Tomatoes (audience score), it’s lauded for “cozy conundrums that charm without chilling.” Variety called Season 3 “a tonic for troubled times,” praising its “Shakespearean sparkle amid the sleuthing.” The Independent hailed the duo’s “daffy dynamism,” while Entertainment Weekly dubbed it “Britain’s best-kept binge.” Detractors? Early gripes about “tropey tropes” faded as the series evolved, with Season 4’s 92% fresh rating silencing skeptics.

Fans? Ferociously loyal. On X, #ShakesHathS5 lit up post-announcement, with @Geektown’s tease drawing 600 retweets: “Frank & Lu are back! 🕵️‍♀️🕵️‍♂️” Reddit’s r/BritBox erupts: “Season 5 premieres Sept 24 — my tea’s brewing!” TikTok edits of Sebastian’s disguises rack millions of views; fanfic floods AO3 with “what if Frank and Luella?” yarns. Globally, it’s a hit: US viewers on BritBox petitioned PBS for airtime, while Aussie fans on Acorn TV host virtual watch parties. “It’s my rainy day ritual,” confesses @RichyQuigley on X, bingeing Seasons 1-4 for the 18th time. Even skeptics convert: One Midsomer diehard tweeted, “Tried S&H on a whim — now I’m hooked. Funnier, fresher!”

The score’s secret? Accessibility. In a post-Line of Duty world of corruption and carnage, ShakesHath offers uplift: Crimes solved by 9pm, with tea and a twist. “It’s escapism with empathy,” notes Joyner. “We laugh through the loss.” Benton adds: “In grim times, we need gleeful gumshoes.”

Better Than Midsomer Murders? The Case for Shakespeare & Hathaway as Cozy Crime Royalty

Ah, the elephant in the Avon: Midsomer Murders, the 28-season behemoth that’s dispatched more villagers than the Black Death. With its quaint corpses and quirky killers, it’s the godfather of cozy crime. But Shakespeare & Hathaway? It’s the cheeky upstart, trading Midsomer‘s macabre morbidity for Bardic bounce. Where Barnaby broods, Frank wisecracks; Joyce’s jam-making pales beside Luella’s latte-fueled leaps. “Midsomer’s the marathon; we’re the sprint — quick, quirky, quotable,” posits Radio Times‘s Jack Seale.

Pros for S&H: Nimbler pacing (45 minutes vs. 90), sharper satire (Stratford’s tourist traps skewered), and youth appeal (Sebastian’s Gen-Z gags). Its 89% RT edges Midsomer‘s 80%, and global streams (over 50 million hours on BritBox) signal surge. “It’s Midsomer with millennials,” jokes Benton. Cons? Less lore — no 500+ episodes of eccentricity. Yet, as HELLO! raves, “For fans craving comedy in crime, S&H slays.” Verdict: Not better — bolder. The duo that dungs the Bard’s backyard deserves a crown.

Behind the Cobblestones: Filming, Legacy, and a Love Letter to Stratford

Shooting in Stratford isn’t stunt casting — it’s soul. Crews clog half-timbered lanes, locals cameo as extras, and the RSC Theatre loans props (that skull in “Hamlet’s Ghost”? Authentic). “Stratford’s a character,” says Joyner. “The river runs with secrets.” Season 5 ventured to Worcestershire for watery whodunits, but home base remains the Bard’s bailiwick. Challenges? Weather woes and COVID callbacks, but the cast’s camaraderie conquered. “We filmed through floods — fitting for The Tempest,” chuckles McBride.

Legacy-wise, it’s a tribute to Tindall: Her warmth wove the whimsy. “Jude’s joy lingers,” Thompson vows. The show’s sparked tourism — Stratford’s “Sleuth Trail” tours hit 100,000 visitors yearly — and inspired spin-offs (a YA novelization drops 2026). For Joyner and Benton, it’s personal: “This role healed me,” admits Joyner, post-EastEnders burnout. Benton nods: “Frank found grace; so did I.”

Final Flourish: Why Season 5 Is Your Next Binge — And Why You Can’t Miss It

As September 24 dawns, Shakespeare & Hathaway beckons like a half-read sonnet: Irresistible, intricate, infinite fun. In a TV landscape of true-crime tedium, it reminds us mysteries needn’t maim the mood. Frank and Luella aren’t just detectives — they’re dreamers, dodging daggers with dimples. Will Season 5 solve the cozy crown conundrum? One thing’s certain: With twists darker than King Lear, laughs louder than A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and heart as true as Romeo and Juliet, it’s binge gold.

Tune in, tea in hand. The Avon awaits — and so does addiction. What’s your first-episode prediction? Sound off below.