The Good Ship Murder

First the good things: Shane Ward (who I had never heard of before) can sing and his acting actually isn't bad, especially given it isn't his first job. There are other decent actors in the cast too. The show also gets extra points for - as far as I can tell - using the real locations and for including some characters who at least try to speak languages other than English. Last time I looked, Madame Blanc, for example, hadn't even started trying to speak French!

But that's about it. The plots are a bit average, some are better than others and as has been pointed out the involvement of Jack, Kate & the rest of the ship-board characters in the crimes isn't really credible. However, this is NOT the only TV crime drama that stretches credulity like this, especially at the moment.

This is not great, ground-breaking telly, but there's nothing really wrong with it. It's lovely to look at and it actually doesn't always shy away from the realities of life - episode 3 is particularly good here.

It's a perfectly nice way to spend a winter evening.

On the plus side this is family friendly series set on a luxury cruise liner allowing each episode to be set in different beautiful location, which means on the down side as each episode goes by it stretches credulity that one liner could have so many murders associated with it. However this is light entertainment and there are plenty of other series that suffer with the same problem that many are happy to overlook. Unfortunately the acting is very poor and the solution to the murders contrived, a poor man's Agatha Christie. All that being said I suspect that is exactly how it was meant to be written. It stars amongst others Shayne Ward who is a singer and ex winner of the X Factor, so appropriately each episode concludes with him in his role as ship's entertainment officer singing a song. It is what it is and if you take it as that it is a pleasant enough show.

I really can't understand some of the bad reviews about this programme?

Shane and Catherine are superb actors, and the on off relationship with the two is predictable but very watchable the storylines are a little suspect but easy to watch, the settings are good, it isn't going to bamboozle any viewers, it is just good old British humour; and to shoot ot on an actual cruise ship while filled with holidaymakers takes some skill, i wish i had been on there at the time i would have loved being an extra lol. And Shane's singing at the end is well worth waiting for.

Just enjoy it or what it is Good cheesy fun.

A Luxury Mediterranean cruise ship sets sail, stopping at all the major destinations, but at each stop, murder, and on the case is former Detective now crooner Jack Grayling, and first officer Kate Woods.

If you're a fan of shows such as Mallorca Files, Shakespeare and Hathaway etc, I am sure you will enjoy this series. Don't expect anything too serious, and expect to be made to believe some rather impossible scenarios.

Gorgeous location work, it really does emphasise and make the most of The Med. I spent a fair bit of time in Malta, and I may be wrong, but did Malta double up?

Shayne Ward absolutely makes this series, he has that combination of being talented, likeable and charismatic, he really does help to make this show pretty good. Jack is a bit of a bad luck charm, he's The Jessica Fletcher of The Mediterranean, wherever he goes, murder follows.

Shayne's songs are really good, especially his version of True Faith by New Order.

Some nice guest performances along the way, and the regular cast are all very good.

As it stands series two has been commissioned, looking forward to that.

7/10.

I didn't expect much from this show,and I wasn't disappointed. Its basically 'the love boat' with murder and romance attempts. Shane ward can sing as opposed to Adrian Dunbar in 'ridley'.

I guess a murder mystery show on a cruise liner was bound to happen eventually. The acting is very soap opera class. They could have used the ship more,but I'm not complaining I've only seen one episode so I can't tell if it's going to improve but most series do as the actors find their feet.

If your expecting poirot,you'll be disappointed. It could be improved by adding Johnny Vegas and sian Gibson for a bit of light relief. But overall its fine a nice gentle murder mystery at sea.