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The Good Ship Murder Christmas special cast: Meet the characters
Everything you need to know.
5/Clapperboard Productions
- Abby Robinson
Published: Saturday, 27 December 2025 at 6:00 pm
Subscribe to Radio Times: 10 weeks for £10, including the Christmas double issue
It wouldn't be Christmas without a murder in The Good Ship Murder's festive special.
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"A woman called Donna, who claims she has a life-changing illness, boards the ship with her loyal friend Bernie," reads the official synopsis.
But things take a sinister turn when Bernie is found dead during a day excursion to a remote monastery.
Elsewhere, Jack is performing in a grimy dive bar after being sacked from the ship – but the monastery murder "draws Kate back to him".
But can they find their way back to one another romantically – and will he be welcomes back on board the ship?
Catherine Tyldesley as First Officer Kate Woods, Zak Douglas as Jamil Al-Rashid and Shayne Ward as Jack Grayling. Clapperboard Productions/©5 Broadcasting Limited/David Laposi & Mark Cassar
A number of familiar faces have returned for the Christmas special, plus some new additions, too.
Find the full cast rundown below.
The Good Ship Murder Christmas special cast
- Shayne Ward plays Jack Grayling
- Catherine Tyldesley plays Kate Woods
- Zak Douglas plays Jamil Al-Rashid
- Geoffrey Breton plays Piers De Vreese
- Ross Adams plays Colin Smallwood
- Kiza Deen plays Frankie Johnson
- James Barriscale plays Captain Marlowe
- Yuna Shin plays Dr Sharon Tan
- Lesley Dunlop plays Carole Merryweather
- Joelle Dyson plays Donna Branning
- Luis Soto plays Father Rodriguez
- Gary Lucy plays Jason Agnew
- Rebecca Harland plays Bernie Campbell
- Greta Holland plays Sister Thomasina
- Michelle Holmes plays Eve Fontaine
For more information about the characters and where you've seen the actors before, read on.
Good Ship Murder returning cast
Shayne Ward plays Jack
Shayne Ward as Jack in The Good Ship Murder. Mark Cassar / Channel 5 Television / Clapperboard
Who is Jack? A cabaret singer who used to be a detective in the special crimes unit. Jack was the ship's resident singer, but he was sacked last season and hasn't seen Kate since.
Where have I seen Shayne Ward before? As well as winning The X Factor, he previously appeared in Coronation Street as Aidan Connor.
Catherine Tyldesley plays Kate
Catherine Tyldesley as Kate Woods in The Good Ship Murder. Mark Cassar / Channel 5 Television / Clapperboard
Who is Kate? A first officer who is training for her captain's licence. Kate used to spend her days solving murders alongside Jack (as you do) and the pair became romantically involved. But he's since left, leaving their relationship in limbo.
Where have I seen Catherine Tyldesley before? Most people know her as Eva Price from Coronation Street. She's also appeared in Sky comedy Trollied, ITV crime drama Viewpoint, BBC sitcom Scarborough and an episode of ITV's McDonald & Dodds.
Zak Douglas plays Jamil
Zak Douglas as Jamil in The Good Ship Murder. Mark Cassar / Channel 5 Television / Clapperboard
Who is Jamil? He works on the ship and is Kate and Jack's biggest fan.
Where have I seen Zak Douglas before? You might have watched him in The Larkins.
Geoffrey Breton plays Piers
Geoffrey Breton as Piers de Vreese in The Good Ship Murder. Mark Cassar / Channel 5 Television / Clapperboard
Who is Piers? Another first officer on the ship. He was engaged to Kate, but they have since split as her heart now lies with Jack.
Where have I seen Geoffrey Breton before? He appeared in ITV's Blue Murder and BBC One's The Diary of Anne Frank, and he played Princess Anne's first husband Mark Phillips in Netflix's The Crown.
Ross Adams plays Colin Smallwood
Ross Adams. Lime Pictures/Channel 4
Who is Colin Smallwood? He replaced Claire Sweeney's Beverley Carnell as the cruise director.
What else has Ross Adams been in? He's best known for Hollyoaks.
Additional cast includes:
- Kiza Deen (Hollyoaks) plays Frankie - head of security on the ship.
- James Barriscale (Doctors) plays Captain Marlowe.
- Yuna Shin (Halo) plays Dr Sharon Tan.
The Good Ship Murder Christmas special guest stars
- Joelle Dyson (Doctors, Vera) plays Donna Branning - a woman who claims she has a life-changing illness. She boards the ship with her best friend.
- Rebecca Harland (Casualty) plays Bernie Campbell - Donna's closest friend who has supported her throughout her illness. But in a tragic twist, Bernie is murdered.
- Gary Lucy (Hollyoaks, EastEnders, The Bill, Footballers' Wives) plays Jason Agnew - a passenger on the ship. He wants to take Donna on a date, but Bernie is firmly against it.
- Luis Soto (Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason) plays Father Rodriguez
- Greta Holland (The Madame Blanc Mysteries) plays Sister Thomasina.
- Michelle Holmes (Coronation Street, The Practice, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks) plays Eve Fontaine - a singer who's booked to perform on the ship.
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The Good Ship Murder will return for season 3.
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Authors
Abby RobinsonDrama Editor
Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.
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