Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators season 5 — release date, cast, plot and everything we know

Shakespeare and Hathaway season 5 Lu and Frank

(Image credit: U&Alibi )

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators is back for its fifth season, with Jo Joyner and Mark Benton reuniting as the popular crime-fighting duo.

They play Stratford-upon-Avon sleuths Lu Shakespeare (Joyner) and Frank Hathaway (Benton). It originally started on BBC1 in 2018, but now its new 10-part run will be premiering on U&Alibi.

It’s been nearly three years since the last series. Here’s everything we know about the new one…

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators season 5 release date

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators begins on U&Alibi at 8 pm on Wednesday, September 24. It will come to the BBC at a later date.

Plot

All is not well between the dynamic duo when we join them. Lu has started her own investigation business. "Obviously, it's Lu’s fault," says Mark. Jo: "No, it’s Frank’s fault! We’ve always felt they’re like a couple who’ve been married for 30 odd years - they missed all the romance and went straight to the low-level bickering. The idea is it finally broke them and Lu stormed off and now she’s got herself a nice, bright office full of young people."

Mark adds, “Frank doesn’t want him and Lu to be apart, but he’s so stubborn. He’s always been scruffy but, without her, his whole world disintegrates.”

It’s not good news for their assistant Sebastian, who ends up secretly working for both of them! Jo explains: “Yes, poor Sebastian is running between the two of them, and they both think he’s sided with them! Lu and Frank end up working the same case for two different clients, and they eventually realise that two minds are better than one."

The first case involves feuding married social influencers.

Cast

Seb, Lu and Frank on Shakespeare &amp; Hathaway Private Investigators — The cast celebrate the start of filming on the new series (Image credit: BBC)

Jo Joyner and Mark Benton return as Lu and Frank. Patrick Walshe McBride returns as Sebastian Brudenell. In the first episode, The Wives’ Christine Bottomley and Protection’s Andrew Knott guest as married couple Rina and Preston Shrewsbury.

Is there a trailer?

No, not yet.

Will there be another series?

Nothing is confirmed as yet but the cast are hopeful. Jo says: "Honestly, I would love to do this forever. We've got lots more ideas, so fingers crossed!"

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough.

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!

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