PEARL of wisdom

KERRY GODLIMAN on her coastal crime drama coming to free-to-air TV

- ELAINE REILLY

WHITSTABLE PEARL

THURSDAY, 9PM, DRAMA DRAMA (BOX SET, UKTV PLAY)

Kerry Godliman is over the moon that her popular streaming whodunnit Whitstable Pearl will be given a new lease of life when it arrives on free-to-air channel Drama this week.

Inspired by Julie Wassmer’s murder-mystery novels and set in Kent's coastal town Whitstable, the six-part first season originally launched on Acorn TV in 2021 and follows the crime-solving adventures of restaurateur Pearl Nolan.

‘It’s really lovely to talk about the first series again and I’m so excited it’s coming to Drama – hopefully more people will see the show!’ smiles After Life and Trigger Point star Kerry, as she joins TV Times for an exclusive video interview. ‘I really like Pearl. She’s very warm, relatable and funny.’

The opening episode sees single mum and ex-copper Pearl suspect foul play after she finds the dead body of her friend, fisherman Vinnie Rowe. But with gruff ‘Down from London’ cop Mike McGuire (Liar star Howard Charles) convinced it was an accident, she has no choice but to launch her own investigation!

Here, Kerry shares her case notes…

What was it about playing Pearl that appealed to you, Kerry? 

She’s very independent, but also a strong community member in Whitstable. She builds relationships with people and has a moral compass that I respect. There’s good and bad and right and wrong, and if she sees people being mistreated or misrepresented, she feels she has to protect them. She’s quite nosy, too, which I can relate to!