'Near-perfect' crime series starring Coronation Street legend finally hits Netflix - as viewers hail it as 'a refreshing change' for the genre

Daily Mail​

a day ago

A 'near-perfect' crime series starring a Coronation Street legend has finally hit Netflix, as viewers hailed it 'a refreshing change' for the genre.
The Madame Blanc Mysteries, which dropped on the streamer on Wednesday, stars Sally Lindsay, known as Rovers Return landlady Shelley Unwin in the ITV soap.
The cosy crime show, which started on Channel 5 in 2021 to massive success, follows Sally as Cheshire antiques dealer turned armchair detective Jean White.
Set in a fictional village in southern France, it sees amateur investigator Jean, helped by a cast of locals, solve her husband's murder - and an array of other mysteries.
The four series were co-written by Sally, with long-time writing partner British actress Sue Vincent, who also stars as local garage owner Gloria.
It also features an array of guest stars, including Les Dennis and the late Paul O'Grady - and its avid fans will be delighted to now be able to stream it all on Netflix.
The cosy crime show (pictured), which started on Channel 5 in 2021 to massive success, follows Sally as Cheshire antiques dealer turned armchair detective Jean White
One dubbed the series 'almost perfect' in a review left on film cataloguing site IMDb: 'Really enjoying this comedy-drama-mystery so far.
'It's great to have a show written by and predominately starring over 50s that is clean enough for all generations to watch together.'
Another wrote: 'Silly fun in a light entertainment format. Of course it's not meant to be taken seriously. Of course the actors are hamming it up.
'It's still an entertaining little package best enjoyed with a nice glass of red French wine.'
Someone else commented: 'Really enjoyed this. Great location. A bright, sunny and refreshing change.
'The ongoing mystery is intriguing and the self-contained weekly case to be solved keeps things ticking along nicely. A lovely change.'
One user was keen to see more: 'I would like to see more of this. A mystery without the over dramatising.
'I like the characters and there is a lovely mystery to solve. The background of France is so entertaining also. A nice break from England and the US.'
Its avid fans will be delighted to now be able to stream it all on Netflix
The show starts with her husband Rory's (Peter Gaynor) death in a car crash while at holiday home in the fictional village of Saint Victoire.
As she puts his affairs in order, she realises to her horror that all her assets have been pawned off, leaving her penniless - so she heads to France to try to sort things out.
She soon suspects foul play in Rory's death, as well as the possibility he was leading a double life, with another woman and family entirely.
Not only that, his priceless ring has gone missing - creating a clear motive for a potential killer.
She is not tackling the investigation alone though, joined by taxi driver and potential new love interest Dom (Benidorm's Steve Edge).
Expat chateau owners Jeremy and Judith (Robin Askwith and Only Fools and Horses' Sue Holderness) are also there to help.
They are joined in their crime fighting by The Chuckle Brothers' Paul Chuckle as local man Trevor and Blackadder's Tony Robinson as Dom's uncle Patrick.
And each episode of the series brings a new case for the gang to tackle.
A festive special of the sun-soaked series, filmed in Malta, has already been commissioned, to warm the winter months.
And four series in to The Madame Blanc Mysteries, Sally has said she will keep writing it as long as there is appetite for it.
She said ahead of the fourth season's release early last year: 'I'm not under any, "Yes, I'll quit when I'm on a high". No, I won't.
'I love it so much. I will do it until they want me to not do it, to be honest, because it's such a special thing in my life. And it's such a part of our lives now.'
It comes after viewers recently revisited another enjoyable sun-soaked project from Sally, now also available on Netflix.
Love Rat - first released to Channel 5 in March last year - follows Emma, played by Sally, a woman at a crossroads in later life.
Just divorced from husband Pete (Men Behaving Badly's Neil Morrissey) and estranged from her daughter, she grows tired of mundane everyday life.
In search of escape, she travels to Cyprus on holiday where she quickly embarks on a whirlwind romance with handsome, rich hotel owner Niko (Gerald Kyd).
But not all is as it seems as Emma suddenly finds herself scammed out of her life savings - and enlisting her ex to help get them back.
Fans have taken to film review and catalogue site IMDb to admire the four-part series, initially seemingly some fun in the sun, which turns into a psychological thriller.
One commenter said: 'When you first watch episode one, you think it's going to be about a general love rat romance on holiday, stealing money etc.
'It's from episode two onwards it then becomes so much more!'
Another added: 'It's one of the drama highlights of 2024 and certainly one of Channel 5's better drama offerings.
'I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not often these days do I binge watch a show.
'Full of twists and turns. Expect the unexpected. It's loaded with suspense and keeps you guessing until the very end.'
Someone else, who could recommend watching it one sitting, said: 'A realistic scenario of psycho narcissistic abuse lurks behind the series' true plot twist.
'This series has moments of suspense well-played. Well done to [the] actors involved in this... Great series.'