The Good Ship Murder Renewed For Season 3!

Last Updated on April 22, 2026

If you live in the UK and are of a certain age, you might very well know Shayne Ward from winning the second series of The X Factor in 2005.

Admittedly that was quite a long time ago, and he has since gone on to do very well for himself and is now probably more well-known for his role in the soap drama Coronation Street.

In that show, he played Aidan O’Connor, who was engaged to Eva Price. And, why am I telling you all of this, I hear you ask?

Well, Eva was played by Catherine Tyldesley, and fast forward a few years, both Ward and Tyldesley have starring roles in The Good Ship Murder.

It has more cheese than a fondue, and I love it! So, if it’s a cozy crime mystery series that you’re after, this will do nicely.

Debuting in October 2023 on Channel 5 in the UK, it was an instant hit, so much so that The Good Ship Murder has since aired its second season and will be back for a third season.

And that was after we also got a bonus Christmas Special in December 2024!

So what is it all about? If The Love Boat and Miss Marple had a TV baby, this would be it. We even get serenaded by Ward at the end of every episode – what’s not to love!

The Story So Far

The series follows Jack Grayling (Shayne Ward), a former police detective who pursues his dream of becoming a cabaret singer aboard a luxury Mediterranean cruise ship. Yes, seriously!

While entertaining passengers with his musical talents, Jack finds himself investigating mysterious murders alongside First Officer Kate Woods (Catherine Tyldesley).

This generally happens every time they are in port, with at least one cruise guest meeting a sad end. It is then up to Jack and Kate to figure out whodunit.

Set aboard a working cruise ship with 6,000 passengers, the unique setting provides a perfect backdrop for mysteries.

Each episode features a new crime set against stunning Mediterranean locations, so they solve murders in Croatia, Spain, France, Portugal, etc…basically all of the usual stops on a European cruise.

It’s easy TV, and no matter how the murder gets solved, Jack Grayling is on hand to sing us out at the end of every episode.

Season 3 Release Date

If you haven’t already seen the first two seasons, you can catch up on all episodes on My5, which is the streaming platform for Channel 5.

But, if you’ve already binged them all, then the good news is that a third season is on the way, though we may have to wait a little bit of time for it.

In fact, The Good Ship Murder season 3 won’t be making its way to our TV screens until January 2026, which is pretty much the typical timeline for a seasonal debut – once a year!

Episodes will drop weekly, every Friday night, with another eight cozy crimes to be solved. Given that there have already been 16 ports of call, we don’t have much by way of knowing where the next set of crimes will be committed.

However, I’m sure that the writers are busy scouring the shipping channels and figuring out their next destinations.

So, with the good news that the show has been renewed for Season 3, we are guaranteed to see Jack and Kate back on screens – even if season 2 left us a bit of a cliffhanger when Jack was called into the Captain’s office!!

Is It Filmed on a Real Cruise Ship?

If you can believe it, The Good Ship Murder is actually filmed on a real cruise ship, the MSC Virtuosa.

The production team works around actual passengers for five to six weeks, with the passengers often appearing as background extras in scenes.

So, just how does it all work? Firstly, there are a lot of early morning shoots for deck scenes to avoid major disruption.

Then, the team films many onboard scenes after the ship has docked when most passengers are ashore. Shooting schedules have to accommodate different groups, as new tourists board weekly in Southampton.

But that is also an advantage, as the constant rotation of passengers during UK and Scottish school breaks provided fresh faces for background scenes in the first season.

Most of the filming takes place in Malta, but the production team is able to capture scenes across multiple Mediterranean destinations when the ship docks.

Regarding the sip itself, which is insanely impressive, the MSC Virtuosa has 10 dining venues, 21 bars, five swimming pools, and a capacity for over 6,000 guests. Wow!

The Theme Song

The theme song of The Good Ship Murder is a catchy, upbeat tune performed by Shayne Ward, who stars as Jack Grayling in the series.

The song is called Going on an Adventure and features these memorable lyrics:

“Going on an adventure with you on my mind
Going on an adventure and I got a feeling the sun’s gonna shine
I’m in love with the ocean and I got a feeling I’m sailing tonight
Because of going on an adventure with you on my mind”

The theme song was written specifically for the show and has not been officially released for streaming or purchase.

Despite its popularity among viewers, who have frequently requested its release, the song remains exclusively available as part of the show’s opening sequence.

Does Shayne Ward Perform on the Cruises?

This is a yes and no answer. If you’ve seen the show, then you know that Jack Grayling sings every night.

And yes, Shayne Ward performs those songs, but only as part of his character as a cabaret singer.

The musical performances are an integral part of the show’s format, as Ward is a former X Factor winner known for his singing abilities.

The songs add to the series’ lighthearted tone, and the performances take place in actual cruise ship venues, with real passengers serving as the audience.

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind going on a cruise and becoming a cozy crime TV series extra AND getting to watch Shayne Ward sing – talk about a bonus!

The Cast

No show can be a hit without a cast of compelling and relatable characters, which is what this show has.

Jack Grayling (Shayne Ward)

A former detective who now works as a cabaret singer on the cruise ship. He’s described as a likable person who knows everyone and sees the best in others.

While entertaining passengers by night, he finds himself solving crimes by day.

First Officer Kate Woods (Catherine Tyldesley)

An ambitious officer working in a male-dominated industry. She’s fierce and smart with plenty to prove.

Despite initial resistance to Jack’s charms, she becomes his partner in solving crimes.

Piers de Vreese (Geoffrey Breton)

Another first officer on the ship and Kate’s former fiancé. Breton has appeared in Blue Murder and played Mark Phillips in The Crown.

Jamil Al-Rashid (Zak Douglas)

A crew member who serves as Jack’s eyes and ears regarding the ship’s guests. His background story is explored when the ship visits his hometown of Casablanca.

Beverley Carnell (Claire Sweeney)

In season 1 she was the cruise director responsible for ensuring smooth operations aboard the ship and she didn’t return for season two.

New Characters for Season 2

Colin Smallwood (Ross Adams) – joined the series in season 2 as the ship’s new entertainment director.

Frankie (Kiza Deen) – the new head of security on the ship, introduced in the Christmas special.

Captain Marlowe (James Barriscale) – a new addition to the ship’s crew, first appearing in the Christmas special.

The show regularly features guest stars for individual episodes, with new characters appearing as passengers and visitors throughout the series, as well an annual Christmas Specials.