A Taste for Murder on ITV: Start date, release schedule and cast confirmed for unmissable drama with Warren Brown
It's based on the novel by Matt Baker
A Taste for Murder gets its first UK release any minute now, and ITV has confirmed the start date of the procedural crime drama starring Warren Brown.
TVGuide.co.uk readers will know that the Trigger Point actor is one of our most bankable TV actors. Throw in the always reliable Phyllis Logan, and this promises to be an unmissable series for crime fans.
From the creator of Hotel Portofino, this sun-drenched murder mystery has the exotic appeal of The Good Ship Murder, the intrigue of Agatha Christie, and the hint of cosy crimes like Whitstable Pearl.
Here’s everything you need to know about A Taste for Murder on ITV, including the upcoming start date, plot, cast, and location.
What is A Taste for Murder on ITV about?
DCI Joe Mottram decides to take a well-needed sabbatical after the sudden death of his Italian wife Sofia. For Joe, a summer visiting family in Italy was meant to offer refuge and a chance to heal broken family bonds – not least with his teenage daughter Angelica.
His in-laws Chef Gennaro and Elena Da Vinale run a popular seaside restaurant, and they welcome Joe and Angelica with open arms. While there, police work is the last thing on Joe’s mind… But, of course, life has other plans.
A synopsis tells us: “Police arrest Gennaro’s nephew and sous-chef, Luca, for murder after a local man’s body is found dead on a beach. Joe can’t avoid getting involved in the investigation. However, he soon finds himself clashing with local Inspector Lara Sarrancino.
“It seems murder follows Joe wherever he goes and, before long, he and Lara have formed a grudging partnership, solving a variety of unusual crimes on the island.”
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But it’s not all murder and mystery, along the way Joe learns to cook, and his exploration of Italian dishes provides insights and clues into the crimes he is investigating. His lessons with Gennaro and Elena in the kitchen ultimately help him to become a better cook, father and detective.
ITV shares: “As the investigations deepen, the idyllic veneer of the island cracks, exposing a web of deception that forces Joe to confront a truth he never saw coming – and which turns his world upside down.”
How many episodes is it?
A Taste for Murder is a six-part crime procedural drama. Each episode is around an hour long with ads, 45 minutes without.
We’re pretty sure you’ll be left wanting more by the end of the six episodes.
Who is in the cast?
Warren Brown stars as DCI Joe Mottram in the cast of A Taste for Murder on ITV. Of course, TV fans will know him well after his appearances in The Responder, Trigger Point, and Ten Pound Poms.
BAFTA-winner Phyllis Logan plays Joe’s mother-in-law Elena Da Vinale. After her roles in Downton Abbey and Shetland, she recently led the cast of Channel 5 cosy crime Murder Most Puzzling. So she’ll feel right at home here.
Urbano Barberini stars as Joe’s father-in-law Chef Gennaro Da Vinale, and husband to Elena. Together they run the seaside restaurant. Gennaro is the gregarious patriarch of the Da Vinale family and legendary local chef. Actor Urbano is best known for his roles on Italian TV, but Bond fans might remember him as Tomelli in Casino Royale.
Young actress Beau Gadsdon plays Joe’s teenage daughter Angelica. A former child actor, she’s previously portrayed Polly Ingram in Quiz, Antonia Minor in Domina, Ella Lawrence in Treason, and a young Princess Margaret in The Crown.
Cristiana Dell’Anna portrays local police Inspector Lara Sarrancino. Italian viewers will know the Naples-born actress for her roles in Gomorrah, and My Family.
Also joining the ensemble cast are:
- Alessandro Fella (Barbarians 2) as Luca Da Vinale, Gennaro’s charming but ne’er-do-well nephew.
- Gaia Scodellaro (The Equalizer 3) as Daria, a local divorcee who works in the restaurant kitchen.
- Alessandro Bedetti (Those About to Die) as Daniele, a young lothario who falls in with Angelica and offers to show her the island.
Is it based on a book?
Matt Baker created and wrote A Taste for Murder. No, not that Matt Baker. You might know television screenwriter Matt best for creating the ITV series Hotel Portofino. He co-wrote and adapted the series Professor T, Suspect, and Before We Die, and is the lead writer on Channel 4 series Patience.
He devoted himself to writing full-time during the COVID-19 pandemic and A Taste for Murder is his first novel.
A synopsis for the novel says: “For Detective Chief Inspector Joe Mottram, a summer on the island of Capri was meant to be an opportunity to reconnect with his troubled teenage daughter, Angelica. As well as his Italian in-laws, after his wife’s Francesca’s death by a hit-and-run.
“But, when a British tourist is found dead and a member of his late wife’s family is accused of murder, Joe is pulled back into a world of police cells, crime scenes and local corruption. As he discovers more about the island, he realises it holds the answers to Francesca’s death, which may not have been a tragic accident after all.”
A Taste for Murder filming locations
Cast and crew filmed A Taste for Murder on location in Croatia and Italy. Viewers will see the stunning coastal scenery of Capri and Naples. Production for the six-part murder mystery took place in early 2025, with Croatian filming spots including Opatija, Volosko, and Labin.
The series relies on these Mediterranean backdrops to “create an atmospheric, sun-drenched, and scenic environment for the murder mysteries”.
How can I watch A Taste for Murder, and when is the start date?
A Taste for Murder recently dropped on ITVX, and will air on ITV1 from Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 9pm.
Episode 2 will subsequently air the following Wednesday (May 06) at 9pm on ITV1.
Episode 3 will air on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 9pm on ITV1.
The fourth episode will go out on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 9pm on ITV1.
Episode 5 follows on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 9pm on ITV1.
Viewers can watch the final episode on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 at 9pm on ITV1.
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