The Good Ship Murder Christmas special 2025: Release date, cast, plot and latest news
The show returns with a festive whodunnit.
The Good Ship Murder, 5's crime drama set on a luxurious cruise ship, is returning to our screens for its second Christmas special – and this year's looks more eventful than ever.
The festive episode, which will mark the beginning of the show's third season, will follow on from the end of season two, which saw Jack (Shayne Ward) sacked from the ship and separated from Kate (Catherine Tyldesley).
However, when a passenger from the ship is found dead during an excursion to a monastery in Alicante, the pair must come together to solve the mystery and find the perpetrator.
But can the duo catch the killer? And will they find their way back to one another romantically?
Alongside Ward and Tyldesley, Zak Douglas, Geoffrey Breton, Ross Adams, Kiza Deen, James Barriscale and Yuna Shin are also set to return to the cast, while there will also be a handful of new additions.
Read on for everything you need to know about The Good Ship Murder Christmas Special 2025, including when you can watch it and the returning cast.
The Good Ship Murder Christmas special 2025 release date: When will it air?
The Good Ship Murder 2025 Christmas special will air on Saturday 27th December at 9pm on 5.
The third season will set sail shortly after and premiere on Tuesday 6th January at 9pm on 5.
It was announced that the show would be returning for a second and third series back in April 2024, with Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, at Channel 5, saying at the time: "Greg and I are excited for these new tales on The Good Ship Murder. The blend of music, mystery, and beautiful locations was a winning formula that our viewers loved in series one, and we’re excited to be working with Clapperboard again to bring this series back."
Mike Benson, Managing Director of Clapperboard, added: "Series one was something of a journey – or mid-price cruise – into the unknown… not least trying to film a drama on a cruise ship with 6000 holidaymakers heading to 8 different countries! However, we were delighted with how the concept found an audience and are thrilled to be making two more series packed with sun, showtunes and subterfuge."
The Good Ship Murder Christmas special 2025 cast: Who stars?
The confirmed cast is as follows:
- 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
- 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
The Good Ship Murder Christmas special 2025 plot: What will happen?
The Good Ship Murder docks in Alicante for this year's Christmas episode, where "a woman called Donna, who claims she has a life-changing illness, boards the ship with her loyal friend Bernie".
"As the festive voyage begins, Donna charms fellow passenger Gary and yearning for a Christmas miracle, visits a remote monastery," reads the official synopsis.
"There she meets Rodriguez, a mysterious man of the cloth, and Thomasina, an enigmatic nun. But the holiday cheer turns dark when Bernie is found dead."
Elsewhere, Jack is performing in a grimy dive bar after being sacked from the ship – but the monastery murder "draws Kate back to him".
Will they "rekindle their romance" – and will Jack return to the ship, just in time for Christmas?
Is there a trailer for The Good Ship Murder Christmas special 2025?
Yes, a trailer has been released for the festive episode, giving fans a first glimpse at Kate and Jack in action as they work to unravel the mystery.
Watch below:
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The Good Ship Murder 2025 Christmas special will air on Saturday 27th December at 9pm on 5.
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Authors
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.
