The Good Ship Murder series 3: Episode 3 guest stars Scottish actress from long-running soap
Jack and Kate travel to Istanbul this week
The Good Ship Murder continues its journey this week in episode 3, with a new location and a new guest cast.
Jack and Kate travel to Istanbul, where renowned wellness guru Dr Woo comes on board to promote a new “age-defying” beauty treatment. He is accompanied by his latest investor – none other than the mother of Sharon Tan, the ship doctor. Sharon’s mother imagines a future where she acts as match-maker for her daughter and Dr Woo. Although she hasn’t counted on Sharon’s fierce sense of independence, and resistance to the mere thought of an “arranged” marriage.
With Sharon and Jack acting as onlookers, Dr Woo hosts a presentation at the site where he hopes to develop his clinic. But during the presentation, it transpires that Dr Woo’s colleague, the clinical director, has been murdered…
The prime suspect is a disgruntled patient, Donna, whom Jack and Kate manage to track down. Sharon’s own mother is a suspect too. Here’s who plays who in the guest cast of Good Ship Murder series 3 episode 3.
The Good Ship Murder guest cast episode 3: Sally Howitt plays Dawn Blakely
Scottish actress Sally Howitt appears in the guest cast of The Good Ship Murder series 3 episode 3. The 60-year old portrays Dawn Blakely who has a crucial role in the Istanbul episode, but you’ll find no spoilers here!
Oban-born Sally will be very well known to fans of Scottish soap River City. She’s portrayed Scarlett O’Hara née Adams ever since 2003, and is one of the show’s longest serving cast members. She left in 2009 but returned in 2012.
Scarlett is “sassy, brashy, with a tough exterior that belies her soft heart”. Talking about her character, actress Sally has said: “I’ve played funny and hard-nosed characters before, but never a matriarch. It’s a really different experience for me because Scarlett’s a mum of three but I don’t have any children in real life.”
Sally started her screen career in 1992, playing Charlie Chaplin in one episode of the legal drama The Advocates. She went on to appear in Scottish comedies including The Tales of Para Handy, The High Life, Rab C. Nesbitt, Bad Boys, and The Baldy Man.
More recently, Sally portrayed Diane MacArthur in the Hulu comedy Dinosaurs. As River City comes to an end, Sally will be joining the cast of Counsels (see more on that below).
The series will follow young lawyers as they navigate the “intense demands of their early careers while dealing with personal dramas and relationships, all during a pivotal time in their professional development”.
Has River City been axed?
Sadly, River City is coming to an end in 2026. BBC Scotland announced in March 2025 that River City would end in 2026. The final series will air in autumn 2026.
A statement from the Beeb said: “BBC Scotland will be saying a fond farewell to long-running drama series, River City, and the residents of Shieldinch next year after more than 20 years on screen. The drama, which has entertained audiences since 2002, will air its final series in autumn 2026.
“Reflecting a significant change in audience behaviour away from long-running series and towards shorter runs, the BBC will make a considerable boost in major drama productions set across Scotland, moving the River City investment, starting with three new series – Counsels, Grams and The Young Team.”
Hayley Valentine, Director of BBC Scotland said: “River City has been a wonderful adventure and of course we’ll all be sad to see it go. The team have done a brilliant job and I know they have some big plans for the finale.”
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland, added: “We are incredibly proud of River City and it is with great sadness that we have come to this difficult decision.”
Who else guest stars in the cast of The Good Ship Murder series 3 episode 3?
Eleanor Hahn plays Mrs Kim Eun Tan. This is her fifth screen role, having previously portrayed Carol Houck Smith in 2025’s The Chronology of Water.
Arthur Lee is Dr Seon Hee Woo. He starred as D.I. Xiang in EastEnders between 2023 and 2025. He’s also known for portraying Rui Hirota in James Nesbitt thriller Lucky Man.
John-Paul Pace guest stars as Inspector Demir Badem, a local cop who appears to be conspiring with Dr Woo. He’s best known for playing Cay in Measures.
Angele Galea portrays Dr Aylin Aziz. She’s perhaps best known for portraying Charition in the 2009 film Agora.
Full cast list of The Good Ship Murder series 3 episode 3:
Shayne Ward stars as Jack Grayling.
Catherine Tyldesley plays Kate Woods.
Zak Douglas is Jamil Al-Rashid.
Geoffrey Breton portrays Piers De Vreese.
Ross Adams plays Colin Smallwood.
Kiza Deen stars as Frankie Johnson.
James Barriscale is Captain Marlowe.
Yuna Shin portrays Dr. Sharon Tan.
Sally Howitt plays Dawn Blakely.
Eleanor Hahn plays Mrs Kim Eun Tan.
Arthur Lee is Dr Seon Hee Woo.
John-Paul Pace guest stars as Inspector Demir Badem.
Angele Galea portrays Dr Aylin Aziz.
Read more: The Good Ship Murder sees three iconic soap favourites join the cast including Lesley Dunlop
