Worcester in spotlight as Hairdresser Mysteries premieres
BBC's six-part cosy crime series known as hairdresser mysteries — The Hairdresser Mysteries — premieres Friday, July 17, 2026, at 2pm on BBC One and on iPlayer, putting Worcester filming sites in the spotlight. Bridget Jones star Sally Phillips leads as Lily Petal in Jim Cartwright's 1970s-inspired murder mystery.
Key Takeaways
- The Hairdresser Mysteries is a six-part BBC One cosy crime drama airing from Friday, July 17, 2026, at 2pm, with episodes also on BBC iPlayer.
- Sally Phillips plays Lily Petal, a high-end hairdresser who leaves London for a village salon and is pulled into local murders with assistant Clary Coombs.
- Worcester locations featured in the shoot, including the WAC Motorcycle Club at Tower Buildings in Perdiswell Park.
- Creator Jim Cartwright wrote the series; Phillips has likened the tone to cosy crime meets The Vicar of Dibley.
- Supporting cast includes Charlotte Jordan, Sunetra Sarker, Ben Castle-Gibb and Guy Henry.
For readers who follow true crime and unsolved mysteries on screen, this premiere is less about real cold cases and more about how cosy crime TV keeps murder puzzles in the mainstream.
Why is Worcester in the spotlight for this premiere?
According to The Worcester News, BBC crews filmed scenes in the city, helping put Worcester on the national map as the show lands.
One confirmed site is the WAC Motorcycle Club at Tower Buildings in Perdiswell Park. Club chair Jon Barras rented the venue for filming and said the rear of the club was turned into a warehouse set. He described Phillips as "lovely," noting she recorded a live message for his wife, Lisa, a fan who could not meet her in person.
"It has been great for the club and has put us on the map," Barras told the paper.
What happens in The Hairdresser Mysteries?
The series follows Lily Petal, a high-end, 1970s-obsessed hairdresser who swaps a competitive London salon for a small-village shop atop a cobbled street. Murders keep landing on her doorstep, and she and salon colleague Clary Coombs become amateur detectives.
Digital Spy reports Phillips has framed the show as "a cosy crime show meets The Vicar of Dibley," calling it a feel-good mash-up. She argued a hairdresser detective makes comic and narrative sense because people open up in the chair, and she compared the double act to "Holmes & Watson, but really shallow."
Playwright Jim Cartwright created the drama, produced by Mill Bay Media 53 Degrees Global in association with Night Train Media.
Who stars in the hairdresser mysteries cast?
Phillips leads as Lily. Coronation Street's Charlotte Jordan plays Clary Coombs, Lily's eager assistant. Sunetra Sarker appears as gossipy Wincey Evans — Phillips called her "absolutely hilarious."
Ben Castle-Gibb plays PC Adam Watson, a local officer with a crush on Clary, per Cosmopolitan's cast guide. Guy Henry plays eccentric antiques dealer Race Runard. Clive Rowe appears as Lonnie, manager of the local charity shop.
When can you watch The Hairdresser Mysteries?
Episode one airs on BBC One on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 2pm. The six-part run is also available on BBC iPlayer the same day, making it easy to binge the salon sleuthing after the afternoon premiere.