Actor Brian Doherty appears on 27 September in Tall Tales & Murder, a darkly comic series created by Stuart Carolan. Playing the villainous JJ in Fair City, Doherty takes on a sharply contrasting role as Bunny, a GAA-obsessed detective who acts as a guardian angel to a fleeing car thief.
From Carrigstown Villain to Darkly Comic Detective
In Tall Tales & Murder, Bridget, a worn-out retirement home nurse played by Ella Lily Hyland, and Paul, a want-out car thief played by Casey Walsh, embark on an unexpected misadventure. The series also features Aidan Gillen as a previously comatose Dublin criminal named Grinner and Aisling O’Sullivan as Bridget’s icy-yet-amorous boss, The Matron. Doherty’s character, Bunny, attempts to keep Paul safe while satisfying The Matron.
Discussing the project with RTÉ Entertainment, Doherty noted that Bunny sits far apart from his Fair City character. “That’s what you want as an actor – you don’t want to be playing the same thing over and over again,” Doherty said. “You want that variety of character. I’ve been very lucky over time to have done that. To have these two at the same time is very unusual, and it’s great craic.”
While Doherty described JJ in Fair City as fun to play for his darkness and manipulative nature, he praised Bunny’s distinct philosophy. “With Bunny, it’s his ability to cope, however ham-fisted it can be at times! His philosophy for life is, ‘We’ll think of something’. I’m crazy about Bunny. I think he’s a fantastic character; I really do. I love him!”
Reuniting With Aisling O’Sullivan After Three Decades
The series marks a professional reunion for Doherty and co-star Aisling O’Sullivan, who first worked together at the Abbey in Dublin roughly 35 years ago as romantic partners in The Murphy Initiative. Their collaboration on Tall Tales & Murder represents their fourth time playing opposite one another as romantic partners, following previous roles in RAW and Tom Murphy’s play The Wake at the Abbey.
According to Doherty, the scripts immediately drew them in. “From the first few pages, the dialogue is so good and the scenarios are so interesting and the characters jump off the page,” he said. He added that viewers will likely encounter surprising plot turns that challenge their expectations of how the narrative threads will meet.
Broadcast Details and Future Plans
Tall Tales & Murder premieres on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player on Sunday, 27 September, at 9:40 pm, with all episodes landing on the RTÉ Player simultaneously. Production plans for a second season are already underway.
Doherty praised the creative team behind the production, noting that he had not previously crossed paths with creator Stuart Carolan while living in the UK during the broadcast of Love/Hate. He also expressed admiration for director Chris Addison, known for his work on The Thick of It and Veep.
Meanwhile, Doherty continues his role in Fair City alongside Aisling O’Neill, who plays Carol. Describing the dynamic between the two characters, Doherty observed that while Carol constantly questions who JJ really is, his genuine care for her allows him to repeatedly win her back. Fair City continues its regular broadcast schedule on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player.
Worth a look