The Good Ship Murder Christmas special 2025: Release date, cast, plot and latest news
Will Jack and Kate rekindle their romance?
The Good Ship Murder returns for its second Christmas special — but there's not much festive cheer to be found at first, as Jack and Kate remain apart following his exit from the ship.
It's not long before they're reunited, however.
When a passenger from the ship is found dead during an excursion to a monastery in Alicante, the pair must work together if the perpetrator is to be unmasked.
But can they catch the killer — and find their way back to one another romantically?
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 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
- 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
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?
There is no trailer yet – but if it does arrive, we'll pop it right here.
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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.
