Download first look images HERE
London, 23rd February 2026 – It was announced today at London Screenings that ZDF and SBS will become the home of the show in Germany and Australia respectively. BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ initially commissioned two six-part series of new drama in association with Screen Ireland in June 2025.
This darkly funny crime drama will star Ella Lily Hyland (Black Doves, Towards Zero, Silent Roar), Aidan Gillen (Love/Hate, Game of Thrones, KIN), Philippa Dunne (Amandaland, Derry Girls, The Woman in the Wall) and Packy Lee (Peaky Blinders).
Written by Stuart Carolan – the writer and creator of RTÉ’s smash-hit crime drama Love/Hate, one of the most critically acclaimed and successful Irish dramas ever produced – and co-created with double EMMY and Directors Guild of America Award winner Chris Addison (Veep, Breeders, The Thick of It). Tall Tales & Murder is produced by Avalon (Breeders, Starstruck, Catastrophe), in association with Ireland-based Metropolitan Pictures (KIN). The story is based on the much loved eight-book Dublin Trilogy by Caimh McDonnell.
Filming on season one wrapped in January in the Republic of Ireland, with the first season set to premiere in late 2026. Tall Tales & Murder is distributed internationally by Avalon.
Paula Warwick, Head of Distribution for Avalon, said: “We are thrilled to bring this brilliant, darkly funny crime drama series to the international market. Packed with star-making performances, crazy twists and the most Irish of Irish hearts, it will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.”
Tall Tales & Murder (12 x 60’) was commissioned by David Crean, Head of Drama and Dermot Horan, Director of Acquisitions & Co-Productions, at RTÉ; and Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Commissioning and Jason Butler, Commissioning Editor, for BBC Northern Ireland, in association with Screen Ireland, and with ZDF as co-producer. Produced by Avalon, in association with Metropolitan Pictures, Tall Tales & Murder is executive produced by Chris Addison, Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Aslett, Stuart Carolan and Jon Thoday for Avalon, with David McLoughlin, and Catherine Tiernan for Metropolitan Pictures.
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Dan Lloyd at Avalon
Victoria Wedderburn at Avalon
Notes to Editors:
About Avalon
Avalon is a multi-award-winning talent management, television production and live promotion group with offices in London, Los Angeles and New York.
Avalon, Artists Rights Group and The Agency together represent a diverse and distinctive roster of artists including actors, comedians, writers and directors, among them Academy Award, BAFTA, Emmy, Tony and Olivier Award-winners.
Avalon is the UK’s largest independent television production company, with over 40 shows in production in the last year including: hit entertainment format Taskmaster (Channel 4 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia, TV4 in Sweden, TVNorge/Discovery+ in Norway); multi-Emmy award winning Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO); Not Going Out (BBC), the UK’s longest running sitcom on air; Tall Tales & Murder (BBC/RTE), a highly anticipated darkly comedic crime drama; upcoming live-action, sketch comedy series The Terrors of Jordan Mendoza (Adult Swim); a brand new series of the iconic satirical puppet show Spitting Image: The Rest is Bulls*!t (YouTube) and Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly (Channel 5 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia). Avalon has produced over 4,000 episodes of programming for audiences in the UK, US and around the world, winning 39 Emmy Awards and BAFTAs from 100+ nominations.
Other landmark Avalon shows include Catastrophe (Amazon/Channel 4), Breeders (FX/Sky), Starstruck (HBO Max/BBC), Flatbush Misdemeanors (Showtime), Workaholics (Comedy Central), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), TV Burp (ITV) and Fantasy Football League (BBC/ITV/Sky). Avalon has also produced over 60 comedy specials for various platforms including Amazon, HBO, Netflix and Sky, as well as numerous podcasts and radio shows, including over 300 episodes of the record-breaking, arena-touring podcast, Shagged. Married. Annoyed. with Chris & Rosie Ramsey. Avalon’s dedicated distribution arm licenses its catalogue of programmes and formats to over 200 territories worldwide.
Avalon also produces and promotes live comedy around the world and has promoted more winners and nominees of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award than any other company. Avalon produced Newman and Baddiel: Live at Wembley, the UK’s first arena comedy show, Jerry Springer: The Opera, winner of four Olivier Awards, and is currently producing the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical, Operation Mincemeat in the West End and on Broadway.
For Avalon news visit: www.avalonuk.com/press or follow @avalonent
About Screen Ireland
As the national agency for the Irish film, television drama, animation, and documentary industry, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is the creative partner to the sector, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise.
