Stuart Carolan Says Tall Tales & Murder Subverts TV Tropes

Tall Tales and Murder is a darkly comic television series created by Stuart Carolan and directed by Chris Addison, currently airing on RTÉ One and streaming on RTÉ Player, according to RTÉ. The series follows want-out car thief Paul, played by rapper-turned-actor Casey Walsh, and worn-out retirement home nurse Bridget, played by Ella Lily Hyland, as they embark on a chaotic misadventure involving gags, guns, and gold. The production company Avalon backed the project, which is loosely based on books by author Caimh McDonnell.

The Creative Partnership Behind the Screenplay

Chris Addison stated in the RTÉ report that RTÉ essentially set up the creative team on a blind date. A UK music teacher friend recommended the source novels to Addison, who then purchased the rights alongside Avalon before taking the concept to RTÉ. Addison told RTÉ that he knew an English writer could not authentically capture a Dublin-set story, prompting the broadcaster to connect him with Love/Hate creator Stuart Carolan. Alongside producer Toby Welch, the trio spent months developing the narrative in a hotel boardroom.

The three of every couple of months would do two or three days in an unprepossessing boardroom in a hotel and ‘what if?’ it into existence.

RTÉ

Subverting Standard Television Tropes

Stuart Carolan told RTÉ that he finds standard television boring and predictable, noting that the market is flooded with non-stop product, intellectual property, and star vehicles driven by marketing executives. Carolan explained that Tall Tales and Murder was designed to subvert conventional genre shows by asking what creators would make if they just wanted to have a laugh and do something fresh. He cited the influence of Pulp Fiction on his view of entertainment, noting that neither RTÉ nor BBC Northern Ireland once rejected the unconventional material during development.

Casey Walsh Joins a Cast of Talented Actors

Finding the right actor to play Paul proved challenging until director Chris Addison and Ella Lily Hyland flew to Dublin for chemistry castings. Stuart Carolan identified Casey Walsh as having the right presence for the role, despite Walsh lacking a traditional acting background. Addison noted to RTÉ that Hyland is the most naturally talented actor he has ever worked with. The main cast also features Aidan Gillen as previously comatose Dublin criminal Grinner, Aisling O’Sullivan as Bridget’s icy-yet-amorous boss The Matron, and Brian Doherty as Bunny, a GAA-obsessed detective trying to protect Paul.

RTÉ One Prepares a Second Series

Tall Tales and Murder continues on RTÉ One on Sunday nights after the Nine O’Clock News, with all season one episodes available on RTÉ Player, RTÉ reported. While viewers currently binge the first run of episodes, a second series of the darkly comic show is already in the works.