User reviews

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.

It is a nice cosy murder mystery and you get to see other European countries. The locations chosen remind me of a trip to Europe.

The music is nice. The actor sings beautifully. And the music matches the vibe of the show.

With respect to how she is able to work on crimes, maybe it is her day off or something. Tv shows are escapism and this is cute escapism.

Would love to have some other recommendations for the cosy murder mysteries other than Death in Paradise, Harry Wild, Mrs. Marple, Ms Sidhu Investigates, My Life is Murder. I must say love me some Acorn TV and Britbox they provide such good recommendations.

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.

As many of the reviewers have noted, this is not a deep dark difficult to discern crime saga. This is light and fun entertainment, which I discovered on a Sunday afternoon and I'm now tuning in for the second episode.

The lead actors are fun to watch in action. The cruise scenery brightens up one's day and it is pure entertainment for entertainment sake.

Of course I was curious as to which cruise line allowed their ship to be included in this program featuring murder and cruising. I did find it interesting to see some of the behind scenes views of a cruise ship.

So unless you are too stuck up in your views of murder dramas, it's time to get in the cruise buffet line and sample this tasty fun program!

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.

Its a syrupy and soapy confection that will appeal mainly to fans of the cosy crime genre. Shayne Ward and Catherine Tyldesley play the amateur sleuths chasing murderer's at sea.

Yes its a bit naff and won't win any awards but it does what it says on the tin. Its an escapist show with nice scenery and songs. The sharpest things about it was probably Shayne Ward's designer stubble.

On the negative side the plot had more holes than a fisherman's net and there was no chemistry between the leads.

If you like Agatha Raisin, Death in Paradise etc. Its worth a look - if you prefer more serious whodunnits it won't be your cup of tea.

I'm enjoying this show. It's lighthearted following in the steps of Death in Paradise, and the scenery is amazing.

The cinematography at the various locations is superb and really makes me want to visit all the ports they've been to.

It doesn't take itself too seriously and this is all for the better.

We don't always need dark, gritty crime dramas every time.

The sunshine helps too, especially in the middle of a UK year of mainly rain.

When it's miserable outside it's good to watch a show like this.

Shayne Wards wardrobe is full of multi coloured linen clothes and they look great. The costume designer has done well.

The stories have been varied and some of the dialogue has been funny.

What's not to like.

I hope there are more series.

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 love this show. Is it a bit cheesey in parts? Yes. Is it often predictable? Yes. Is it a bit far fetched? Yes. But let's be honest, aren't lots of murder mystery shows? Yes. I think Death in Paradise has become a springboard for Brit detectives abroad and this is one of them. This is a light murder mystery show, with fun characters, beautiful scenery and what is really great is that Shayne Ward in his guise as the ship singer, sings a full song at the end of every episode. If you want a hard hitting challenging who dunnit then this isn't for you. If you want a feel good 45 minutes then get watching.

My wife and I laughed at one of the credits which had the phrase "based on an original idea ....". Seriously? It's "The Love Boat" meets "The Mallorca Files" (or any other male/female unlikely partnership you care to name). Nothing at all original about it.

MY wife kept asking if what's-her-name (we didn't even care in the end) was supposed to be the 1st officer training to be a captain, then why didn't she spend any time on the bridge or involved in anything to do with sailing the ship? Ships often do have an officer assigned to security but it's a specialist position and not likely to be the first officer who spends all her time while in port on land (sorry, that just impossible to believe) and while on the ship spends the time with our male co-star.

Writing? Terrible and unconvincing. To be fair, it's hard to squeeze a credible plot into 44 minutes roungly and especially when you have to subtract out a bit at the beginning and end for opening and closing credits and for our hero to belt out a song to the audience for a couple of minutes as well.

We were pretty disappointed after the 1st episode but thought maybe it was bad because of the need to develop the characters and set the scene for the series. Sadly, episode 2 was even worse.

So that's it from us. It really was as bad as the reviews are saying so we won't be pursuing any more.

5 stars is probably generous.

I liked it, I like the concept and I like the ship. I mean is it great acting, not really. Is it in any way realistic, nope. But hear me out, it was a fun voyage, the locations are beautiful and the characters grow on you. It is just uncomplicated cruising with an unfortunate murder victim here and there... it is slow paced, with a bit of romance and fun. No need to overthink things. No huge dramas, no gory death details, just a nice Mediteranian cruise, and well sometimes a murder for our two unlikely partners turned on board crime fighters to solve. So I am doing my part in trying to get this one a better rating as I would welcome a second season.

Ok, it was rather corny, but I really enjoyed the show. I don't understand any negative feedback. OK, so sometimes it was obvious the story plot line, but it was all good fun. The locations where great to see and the stories were fun. The chemistry with the actors was very cute! It was a fun watch late at night and the last episode had me waiting for more. I even liked murder mystery stories. Getting to know the actors was fun. I believe only 1 season but would have enjoyed more. Wish they would have considered another season. I enjoyed the acting but wasn't too sure if the singing was real! LOL!

Season 1 is good fun, stunning scenery, super songs and a great cast age range etc. It's a very cosy mystery, with nothing graphic but I was slightly irked by the lack of gloves and keeping evidence as that didn't seem realistic. However I'll let that slide as the show gives me everything I want in a light crime drama, especially as our autumn days get darker and the nights get longer - Channel 5 have scheduled it well as January to March is covered with the network's Madame Blanc and BBC's Death in Paradise plus spin-off Beyond Paradise and Mallorca Files. Characterwise, The Good Ship Murder has a different feel, although I'm not so happy with Season 2 yet.

It's a mix of Hetty Wainthrope Investigates and Cruising with Jane Mcdonald however it is so cheesy it watchable. Sometimes you don't need Succession or Killing Eve to enjoy tv.

The plots are standard whodunit fayre, with a couple of red herrings in each episode. The characters have the emotional depth of a puddle in summer but it provides something nostalgic feel.

Filmed on a strangely empty cruise ship which is supposedly sailing the med but the sky when on board always looks grey. I half expected Kate O'Mara sunbathing on the bow. (yes i am old enough to remember Triangle) To top it all former XFactor winner Shayne Ward sings a pop tune at the end.

I am really torn here. I watch the show, I even sometimes enjoy watching it, but also appreciate it is a dreadful piece of television.

It is clearly inspired by Death in Paradise, but The Good Ship Murder makes Death in Paradise look like it was written by Shakespeare.

It's some lazy formatting by Channel 5, they've seen the success of Death in Paradise and sprinkled in some Jane McDonald (down to having the lead character close every episode with a song) and try to pass it off as entertainment.

Storylining is primary school level. Totally unbelievable. Tenuous links. The lead character, Jack, would be arrested for the way he inserts himself into cases, ruining crime scenes and evidence. His Moroccan assistant (5 episodes in and I still haven't learnt his name) is omni-present, one day working in housekeeping, the next day behind the bar, the next day room service, but always has copious amounts of shore leave to be Jack's sidekick.

They've shoe-horned in a "will-they/won't they" romance as well. It really is painting by numbers television. Even by Channel 5 standards, this isn't good quality TV.

That being said, I've watched every episode. Admittedly, most of my time has been spent screaming at the TV about plot holes, inaccuracies, poor scripting and continuity issues. The main redeeming feature is that Shayne Ward is actually fantastic in it. He comes across really well and actually manages to deliver a dreadful script with some kind of sincerity. He deserves an award.

Love watching this. Easy viewing and nothing too taxing, which in todays world is a big plus. Great Sunday night viewing before the start of a hectic week.

Some of the plots are a little predictable. But I've watched a huge amount of Agatha Christie's and Death in Paradise etc etc. So coming up with new plots I haven't seen is hard.

Like the lead characters especially Shayne Ward as Jack and it good to see Claire Sweeney back on the TV. The change of scenery from the ship to the land also adds interest.

Really hope there is a second series and I can see that there is a possibility of a long run similar to Death in Paradise.

This series is mildly pleasant, but it's not exactly compelling. The setting is the biggest draw. Mediterranean scenery and a cruise ship are a nice diversion while one is washing vegetables or emptying the dishwasher. Overall, I question the taste level.

The locations feel fake--long shots of various port cities, with scenes that could all have been filmed in one sunny place. There is a very limited attempt to mention the history or culture of each port in the story, but not much. Sometimes it's heavy-handed, e.g. In the Athens episode, two characters recite every item that might appear on a menu in a greek restaurant. "I must get that recipe for taramasalata!"

As a crime show, the plotting is not great. The suspects are often obvious, the acting too hammy. As a soap opera, it's also tiresome, with the unconsummated relationship of the two main characters dragging on endlessly and implausibly.

The characters one dimensional, and the casting isn't great. I don't get the appeal of Shayne Ward, who plays lounge singer Jack Grayling. He seems like a bit of a slob, and the greased back hair in Season 2 didn't help. The singing is truly dreadful, almost to the point of self-parody. Fortunately, it's at the end of each episode, so I can turn it off or mute it without worry.

I was hoping for something more like Death in Paradise, and there are many similarities. But that show had more wit, at least in the first few seasons, and more interesting "locked room" and "impossible" crimes.

This show is a) good for multi-tasking, as it doesn't take a lot of attention to follow; and b) it shows enough of life aboard a giant, tacky cruise ship to make it unnecessary to take subject one's self to the experience in real life.

The lead actors did not seem plausible to me. Stilted. I only got 15 mins into it, so while I don't know the pattern for the whole series, I fear that we are looking at a murder per episode. I know we have to suspend reality in fiction but if a cruise line was getting that many murders I think they would not stay in business long.

Alternately, if this one "case" was going to drag on for the entire season, it would be painful.

Catherine Tyldesley didn't persuade me that she was an experienced first officer of a floating hotel and neither did Shayne Ward that he was a retired major crime detective.

Yes it's not Shakespeare, the acting a bit wooden and plots a bit thin but on a cold and frosty November evening what's not to like about watching a fantastic cruise ship sailing around all the wonderful ports in the Mediterranean. Really liked the catchy theme tune and Shayne Ward sang all the songs at the end well. We cruise a lot and it reminded us of some our great Mediterranean cruises. If they make another series we would definitely watch. It was quite amusing though seeing all the MSC cruises branding removed but I guess it's still good publicity for them. Time to go and look at booking next summer's cruise.

This is the most cringey thing I've watched in a while. Especially after each episode when Shayne sings. So funny. Catherine's 'posh' accent (up tight British) slips on occasion, it's not complex by any means and it's pretty easy to work out the 'who done it' Sometimes to ship is moving when they're still supposed to be in port which is a bit of a continuity error. It's definitely a none serious series but it is a decent watch and doesn't need too much concentration.

But it's an easy watch and it's nice to see Aidan and Eva again if you're a corrie fan. Episodes get better as the series goes on.

I watched the first two episodes but just couldn't stomach more. It's just so boring.

The plots are shallow and the characters make little sense. For example, why would a killer repeatedly kill people using the same method and location and imagine it would be ruled an accident each time?

The dialogue is cheesy. The accents are bad. The two leads have zero chemistry and are miscast. It would have made much more sense to cast a gorgeous cop/singer instead of the grimy looking actor who just isn't attractive enough for a first officer who looks like a model.

The best part is the exterior shots of the ship and travel locations but that's not enough to keep me watching.

I gave this crime series a 6. I would have given a 7 if the acting of nearly ALL actors would have been better. The city location of each episode is quite decent and perhaps even tempting for future vacation destinations. All of the ship's locations (eg, auditorium, bar, restaurant, rooms) are an unnecessary distraction. Actually, who would like to book a cruise on a ship that is constantly involved in murders??? The 1970s Love Boat series was - at the very least - appealing to consider a cruise. This series enables the very opposite thinking. That very thought warrants an overall 6 rating. The plots are, however, too decent to warrant the overall 5.4 average rating.