Marlow Murder Club star Samantha Bond speaks to The Mirror in an exclusive interview as she returns for series two, admitting that she wants her famous son on the drama

Samantha Bond is back solving crimes in The Marlow Murder Club’s second series – and is hoping that her real-life son will make a cameo at some point.

The actress plays retired archaeologist and amateur sleuth Judith in the U&Drama hit, who reunites with dog walker Suzie and vicar’s wife Becks to solve three sinister cases. They’ve been taken on as civilian advisors to the police by DS Tanika Mailk (Natalie Dew).

However, Samantha is also mum to Brassic regular Tom Hanson and Doctors’ Molly Hanson, her children with husband stage actor Alexander Hanson. With Molly playing the young Judith in series one, Samantha is keen for Tom to take on a role in the future.

Samantha Bond’s son Tom Hanson plays Cardi in Brassic ( 
Image:
(Image: SKY))

Samantha Bond in The Marlow Murder Club
“I’d love it if he popped up,” she grins. “I don’t think I’d pop up in Brassic though

“My daughter in series one played the young Judith but because she was the young me, I didn’t get to share scenes with her. You can’t have the old and the young in the same scene, but it was lovely having her around.”

The new series kicks off with Judith, Suzie (Jo Martin) and Becks (Cara Horgan) heading to a garden party where the host, Sir Peter Bailey, is found mysteriously murdered inside his locked study. “They hear an almighty crash from within the house and Sir Peter is in his study where an enormous ancient cabinet has fallen onto him,” Samantha says.

“He is alone, locked inside his study and the only key is in his pocket. The police quickly decide it’s an accident but Judith, of course, knows it isn’t. But how do you solve the mystery of a dead body under a cabinet in a locked room?”

For Jo, whose character Suzie is part of Judith’s crime-solving trio, series two came as a relief. “There are no guarantees, especially in this current climate where everything’s getting cancelled,” Jo says.

“You get to my age and you’re just hoping. We’re actors – I’ve never been on solid ground so it’s nothing new, but it would be a big mistake not to bring it back because the characters have so much more story in them. You have four female leads who are running the show, I’m not just assisting some man while they solve a crime.”

Jo Martin, Samantha Bond and Cara Horgan return for series 2In the latest series, single mum Suzie experiences a newfound independence as her teenage daughter flies the nest. “As a mother myself, we all make this mistake where sometimes you pour so much into your children and you give nothing back to yourself,” says Jo. “It’s about getting them shoes, getting them to eat, keeping them alive – and then they get to the stage where they’re not needing you so much any more.

“Suzie really struggles with the idea of letting go and this season, she’s having to let go and rediscover who she is. It’s an empowering time for her.”

With a number of Marlow murderers on the loose, the pals soon find themselves chasing down criminals. And with EastEnders’ Samantha Womack, Poldark’s James Wilby and Baby Reindeer’s Nina Sosanya joining the cast, filming series two proved to be a big reunion for both Samantha and Jo.

“James Wilby and I worked together about 25 years ago,” Samantha says. “Caroline Langrishe, who plays Lady Bailey, I’ve known for years and years. You get these incredible actors coming to join you but because a lot of us are in our mature years now, a lot of the guests I’ve known forever. It’s like welcoming an old friend.”

Jo adds that she shares a scene with Hugh Quarshie, who plays Professor Gifford. “I worked with Hugh many moons ago on The Murder Of Stephen Lawrence. I played his sister-in-law. More recently, we were playing neurosurgeons in Holby City so it was lovely when I heard he was stepping up because he’s such a lovely man,” she says.

“He’s playing a love interest for Sam’s character Judith – and I was like, ‘Where’s my love interest? What’s going on?’ Suzie has life in her, she needs a bit of joy!”