Tall Tales And Murder Brings Dark Comedy To RTE
Tall Tales and Murder, a darkly comic series created by Stuart Carolan and directed by Chris Addison, is showing on RTÉ One and streaming on RTÉ Player. The narrative follows want-out car thief Paul, played by rapper-turned-actor Casey Walsh, and worn-out retirement home nurse Bridget, portrayed by Ella Lily Hyland, as they embark on an unexpected criminal misadventure involving gags, guns, and gold.
The main cast features Aidan Gillen as Grinner, a previously comatose Dublin criminal; Aisling O’Sullivan as The Matron, Bridget’s icy-yet-amorous boss; and Brian Doherty as Bunny, a GAA-obsessed detective attempting to watch over Paul. The project is very loosely based on books by Caimh McDonnell. Chris Addison recounted that a music teacher friend in the UK recommended the novels, telling him he would enjoy them. Addison purchased the rights alongside the production company Avalon and brought the concept to RTÉ.
Stuart Carolan helps adapt Dublin-set story
Addison acknowledged during development that an English writer could not adequately adapt a Dublin-set story, prompting him to ask RTÉ for recommendations. The broadcaster directed Addison to Stuart Carolan, known for creating the hit crime drama Love/Hate. Toby Welch, currently working on the UK series Ludwig, also helped coordinate the initial partnership between the creators.
Carolan and Addison spent two or three days every couple of months brainstorming the script in an unprepossessing hotel boardroom. Carolan noted that the intense television market is heavily driven by marketing and intellectual property, making standard pitches prone to failure. He stated that the pair collaborated on the script largely to have fun and subvert predictable television tropes, drawing inspiration from Quentin Tarantino’s film Pulp Fiction.
Casey Walsh and Ella Lily Hyland join cast
Carolan emphasized authenticity during casting, particularly for the central role of Paul. Finding the right performer took extensive searching until casting directors organized chemistry readings in Dublin. Casey Walsh attended these sessions alongside Ella Lily Hyland, and the production team immediately recognized his natural fit for the character, according to Addison.
Addison praised Hyland’s natural talent, noting she is among the most skilled actors he has worked with. Despite initial concerns about casting an inexperienced lead actor, Addison related to Walsh’s background because he also entered acting without a traditional theatre background.
Second series develops as first season airs
Episodes of Tall Tales and Murder broadcast on RTÉ One on Sunday nights following the Nine O’Clock News, with the entire first season made available simultaneously on RTÉ Player. A second series is already in development while viewers continue watching the opening run. Carolan noted that neither RTÉ nor BBC Northern Ireland raised objections to the show’s unconventional tone during production.
Where to watch Tall Tales and Murder?
Where can viewers watch Tall Tales and Murder?
The series broadcasts on RTÉ One on Sunday nights after the Nine O’Clock News and streams in full on the RTÉ Player platform.
Which authors books inspired the television series?
The show is very loosely based on books written by Caimh McDonnell, whose work was brought to the attention of director Chris Addison by a UK music teacher.
Who stars alongside Casey Walsh and Ella Lily Hyland?
The supporting cast includes Aidan Gillen as Grinner, Aisling O’Sullivan as The Matron, and Brian Doherty as Bunny.
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