About the author: Founded MyMarlow.co.uk in its original version back in 2000 - yes the internet DID exist back then Quite clearly loves all things Marlow - hence spending over 2 decades doing this Contact Form Privacy and cookies - with many thanks to our website sponsors - We use cookies to ensure your best experience on our website. If you continue using our website, this implies and assumes your agreement to our cookie policy Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now The proposal includes an investment of £20 million in local industry and could create up to 4,000 jobs Buckinghamshire County Council and the project developers have signed a Section 106 agreement The long-running story around proposals to build a £3.5 billion studio complex on the site of a former quarry near Marlow appears to have taken a step closer to completion with the signing of legal documentation by the local authority and Dido Property The matter is currently being considered by the Secretary of State for Housing However, documents uploaded to the council’s website last week show that a Section 106 agreement has been made outlining a number of mitigation measures that must be undertaken by Dido in the event of approval being granted Dido must provide new bus stops and provide bus services for a period of at least ten years once the complex is open The company is also obliged to notify the council when building work starts Dido has also agreed to deliver an apprenticeship programme providing at least 60 new training places per year once the studio is up and running with “reasonable endeavours” taken to ensure at least 20 of each year’s intake are local people and 40 per cent selected from culturally Dido must work with local schools and organisations to enable educational activities at the site with employment fairs offering opportunities to people from the area The agreement also states footpaths and cycleways must be provided to the council’s satisfaction before the studios are occupied Further mitigation is to be provided for local residents The Secretary of State is expected to make a final decision on the project having “called in” the application last October Matthew Corrigan Matthew Corrigan joined TVBEurope in March 2024 covering everything from MP Interviews to weird local folklore and a marketing copywriter for the deep tech industry Tags ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ England and Wales company registration number 2008885 The Marlow Spring Festival returns for its second year on Saturday 12th April brining afantastic mix of family-friendly activities Following the success of last year’s event we’re excited to welcome you back for another fun-filled day celebrating the joys of spring Meet the Easter Bunny – Our special guest is back and ready for some festive fun Easter Egg Hunt – Little ones can join the search for hidden eggs and enjoy a treat Free Kids’ Crafts – Get creative with spring-themed activities Live Music – Enjoy fantastic performances from local musicians Duck Pond Market – Discover a vibrant selection of artisan crafts and delicious treatsfrom independent traders “It was the third year of Marlow Tastes and the event involved over 70 volunteers in a complex and demanding schedule.”- with many thanks to our website sponsors - The developer's legal team said that approval of Marlow Film Studios would ‘show the world that the blockers NIMBYs and vociferous doomsayers’ will not get their way This website uses 'cookies' to give you the best Using this website means you are Ok with this You can change which cookies are set at any time - and find out more about them - by following this link<\/a> motors and property from the Maidenhead Advertiser An artists impression of Marlow Film Studios The final scenes of the Marlow Film Studios planning inquiry played out yesterday (Monday) as the developer Buckinghamshire Council and campaigners made their closing arguments The £750million film and television production facility including 472sqft of sound stages and a large backlot would be built on a 36-hectare site in the countryside in Little Marlow The scheme was refused by Buckinghamshire council in May but developers Dido Property Ltd appealed the decision Yesterday (February 24) the parties for and against the sprawling studio made their closing statements in a six-hour session after 16 days of discussions speaking on behalf of Little Marlow Parish Council and campaign group Save Marlow’s Greenbelt described Dido Property’s scheme as ‘nebulous speculative and full of wishful thinking.’ Dido Property’s team called objectors ‘pessimistic’ and said they were ‘clutching at straws’ - and accused Bucks council of not taking its role as the local planning authority seriously approval of Marlow Film Studios would ‘show the world that the blockers NIMBYs and vociferous doomsayers’ will not get their way Ultimately, it will be Deputy PM Angela Rayner who will make the final call on whether to approve the plans or dismiss them One of the points of major dispute is over the economic need for such a studio for the film industry and the UK as a whole Both Bucks council and campaigners say this need is overstated and there is plenty of studio space in the UK to compete in the global market Ms Nevin and the council’s team spoke of a decline in production spends and reduced demand for studio space whereas Dido Property’s team believed this was a temporary result of the writer and actor strikes in the USA They argued there was a need to be ‘ambitious and proactive’ as the ‘pre-strike scramble’ for stage space is coming back a difference in interpretation of what experts from the British Film Institute and British Film Commission had to say Ms Nevin said the experts had not evidenced an urgent need for studio space that would justify building on the greenbelt since the ‘top spenders’ are already catered for She also cast doubt on how significant a proportion of the market the UK could corner But Dido Property’s team said this ‘missed the point’ as even a small share would make a large difference to the UK economy.  They also argued that there is less high-quality studio space than there appears because several studios are fully let or wholly operated by the big players – for example Ms Nevin criticised the ‘build it and they will come’ approach taken by Dido Property given the inevitable harm to the greenbelt that would result adding that Dido Property’s projections were ‘formulated at a time when the streaming boom was at its peak,’ and in 2021/22 a ‘significant amount of studio space’ was provided There is ‘insufficient market certainty’ to justify this build felt its evidence was strong; they said they had produced ‘five witnesses of unquestionable expertise’ compared to a lack of support from industry experts on the other side Also key to the discussions was a change in priority within the Government which is looking to boost growth - and as such has taken a keen interest in film studio plans and data centres in the locale accused Bucks council of being ‘closed for business’ and paying ‘lip service’ to the Government's economic plans while seeking only to put up barriers “The Secretary of State should be deeply alarmed by [Bucks council]’s indifference,” he said But Bucks council's Mr Bird said this characterisation of the local authority was ‘wrong and misplaced.’ “The council supports the Government’s growth agenda when it is within the right place,” he said A central question surrounding the appeal is whether the studio justifies the inevitable harm to the greenbelt The quality of the greenbelt land was a major point of difference between the two parties changes in planning policy were brought in to try to free up more space for new homes and large economic centres the Government brought in the classification of ‘greybelt’ – land that is technically greenbelt but which is not high quality and could be built upon with fewer barriers for developers Dido Property’s representatives argued that the land that Marlow Film Studios would be taking over does not properly serve the important purposes of the greenbelt and thus need not be so carefully protected Mr White said this site ‘falls utterly within what the Government envisioned’ in creating the ‘greybelt’ designation and there had been ‘no real attempt’ by the council to carry out a fresh balance assessment in light of Labour's new policies There was some debate about the quality of the land (often called Little Marlow Lakes Country Park) which has historically been used for gravel extraction – but those against the plans said that these in fact led to the park being improved Ms Nevin said that Dido Property’s team had portrayed the area as ‘despoiled and denuded’ when this is not the case Bucks council argued the site ‘contributes strongly’ to the greenbelt and its major functions particularly: to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas; and to prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another They argued the site makes ‘an essential gap’ between Marlow and Little Marlow Bucks council’s Mr Bird said it was ‘not clear why’ this site has been selected for a sweeping film studio The size of the site is not a justification in itself since any perceived need for stage space could be accommodated with a selection of smaller studios elsewhere Ms Nevin spoke of the impact on Westhorpe Park a mobile park home site next to the application site Residents affectionately refer to Westhorpe Park as ‘care homes light’ and can enjoy a peaceful walk in nature without having to go too far from home – something that would be ruined by the studios these homes are ‘vulnerable to noise’ coming from filming activities Though residents are within earshot of the A404 there is ‘simply no comparing the two’ Ms Nevin argued as this steady background noise is not as disruptive as the intermittent and ‘significant’ noise of constructing and deconstructing sets in a studio backlot Other concerns included the loss of public paths that crisscross the site and the fact that replacement trees would take many years to reach a size that would provide any benefit Speakers against the plans also claimed the development would be detrimental to the safety and convenience of the highway But Dido Property’s representatives argued that it is offering ‘ambitious’ improvements including to alternative transport options ie new cycling routes and a new bus service Planning Voters have had their say in local council elections across Buckinghamshire Construction workers did make a mistake when building a new £1.3million roundabout the RBWM cabinet member for highways has said The Conservatives lost a long-held majority at Buckinghamshire Council and fell one seat short of the 49 needed - but how did the votes fall in the county's south A murder investigation has been launched in Slough after a 46-year-old man was killed in an attack © Copyright 2024 Baylis Community Media CIC All right reserved When it comes to solving grisly small-town murder cases there are only three women who are up to the task Meet expert crossworder Judith Potts (Samantha Bond) salt-of-the-earth dogwalker Suzie Harris (Jo Martin) and prim-and-proper vicar’s wife Becks Starling (Cara Horgan) – a super-sleuthing trio and overall force to be reckoned with Inspired by Death In Paradise creator Robot Thorogood’s crime novels the first series saw our three leading ladies form an unlikely friendship as they joined forces with police officer DS Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew) to solve a triple murder that had plagued their peaceful home town of Marlow But there’s no rest for these amateur sleuths as a shocking new crime rocks the local community partly inspired by Thorogood’s novel Death In Marlow but also featuring new stories from crime screenwriters Lucia Haynes (Vera Annika) and Julia Gilbert (Midsomer Murders Tanika has been promoted to DCI and in one of her first leadership acts trouble is never too far away for our well-meaning meddlers and soon enough a wave of grisly killings occur from a seemingly impossible homicide in an aristocratic mansion to an apparent accident at the prestigious Marlow Sailing Club That’s the puzzle to be solved by Marlow’s finest amateur detectives as they assist Tanika with her official investigations Joining the women on their mystery-solving mission this time around are a slew of guest stars Patrick Robinson (Shetland) and Tom Stourton (Stath Lets Flats) With three two-part episodes coming our way we can’t wait to stick on our deerstalkers and sink our teeth into a new chapter of this cosy crime drama Don’t miss the start of series two of The Marlow Murder Club beginning at 8pm on Wednesday 19 March on U&Drama HD (CH 116) scroll down to find out more about the ladies of Marlow and choose who you’d want by your side on a super-sleuthing adventure Just hover over each character to reveal more The second series of The Marlow Murder Club begins at 8pm on Wednesday 19 March on U&Drama HD (CH 116) All six episodes will be available to stream via Apps > U Series 1 is available to watch in Apps > U now Explore our amazing TV deals and never miss a moment of entertainment content and features available depend on your chosen package Channel line-ups and content are subject to change at any time and to regional variations Virgin TV 360 box or Stream box connected with HDMI cables required for HD channels Number of inclusive HD channels depends on package Catch Up TV: Catch Up TV content available for up to 7 days or up to 30 days after broadcast On Demand: Content available to view depends on TV package. Time limits apply for viewing chargeable On Demand content – see http://virginmedia.com all chargeable On Demand content must be viewed within 48 hours Premium channels and upgrades must be kept for at least 30 days Virgin TV 360 Box: Not available with full fibre Minimum of M50 Fibre Broadband required for operation Boxes require a HDMI cable to connect to your TV Catch Up TV: Catch Up TV content available for seven days after broadcast Virgin Stream box: Virgin Media broadband required (min Stream box requires an HDMI cable connected to TV HD TV set and a Stream box connected with HDMI cables required for viewing HD channels 4K compatible TV/device required to watch Ultra HD Stream box and remote remain property of Virgin Media Flex: Virgin Media broadband required (min Not available with other Virgin Media TV services There is a £5 a month charge for Flex service and a one-off activation fee of £35 may apply along with charges & terms for each Flex entertainment subscription chosen Some Flex subscriptions require 30 days’ notice to cancel New Virgin Media broadband customers subject to 18 month contract and set up fees may apply Image credit: The Marlow Murder Club © UKTV / Ray Burminston It looks like nothing was found at this location The Sunday TimesWhen a Wetherspoons opened in this most refined of riverside towns last September many locals were shocked to their perfectly toned cores although the opening of the £3.5 million Grand Assembly was reportedly one of the busiest days the budget pub chain has ever seen you’ll find a real cross-section of Marlovians in there all united in their joy — and relief — at being able to buy a pint for less than £3 expansive Marlow is all about the finer things in life After all this is where Jerome K Jerome wrote parts of Three Men in a Boat There’s fine food — this is Tom Kerridge country home to three of the celebrity chef’s outposts including the Hand and It comes ahead of the cinema release of the filmed performance Tanyel Gumushan Exclusive: The producers of the WhatsOnStage Award-winning musical Six have announced a brand-new track Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, “My Girls” is performed by the original West End Queens, alongside original alternate Grace Mouat You can watch footage from the event at the Ham Yard Hotel, where the number had its official public premiere, here: A post shared by WhatsOnStage (@whatsonstage) Six the Musical Live! recorded at the Vaudeville Theatre with the original cast will arrive in cinemas from 6 April a female friendship anthem celebrating their years of shared history will be available to stream and download from Thursday 3 April under the 6 Music label – the in-house imprint behind both of the show’s albums Marlow and Moss said: “When the seven Queens asked us to write a song that celebrated their incredible bond we had never been more excited about anything in our lives.” They added: “We adore this group of performers so much and we have been on such an amazing journey with them so the chance to write a song that celebrated their friendship was truly an honour,” Saying that when you listen to the tune “We think you can hear how much we love and admire these seven brilliant artists We just can’t wait for everyone to hear this song!” Producer Andy Barnes added that the number feels like “a particularly special moment,” commenting that it’s “a track that celebrates everything these seven extraordinary women have shared together on and off stage.” He describes the original cast as having “a unique chemistry that helped launch Six into the world and it’s wonderful to bring them back together for something new “We’re thrilled to be releasing it under our 6 Music label and can’t wait for fans to hear it.” The pair of Tony Award nominees performed a selection of numbers Get the best deals and latest updates on theatre and shows by signing up for WhatsOnStage newsletter today Ginger Wings was founded by Jack Blumenthal and Leigh Jones and operated out of the Crafty Taproom on Marlow High Street A chicken wing shop in Marlow is undergoing a major transformation to be the ‘blueprint’ for the owners' ‘global domination’ Ginger Wings was founded by friends Jack Blumenthal and Leigh Jones in 2022 and has operated out of the Crafty Taproom in Marlow High Street The pair sub-letted the kitchen and served chicken wings burgers and sides while the bar offered locally sourced craft beers But we just got busier and busier and started building our name and brand," Jack told the Advertiser said the ‘natural progression’ was to take over the building lease The Crafty Taproom closed for good on April 5 with ‘a great send off’ and ‘absolute mayhem’ “The place was breaking apart as the night was going on The Crafty Taproom is currently in the middle of a five-week refurbishment to be transformed into Ginger Wings’ first restaurant global domination and whatnot for the last year and a half," said Jack The former bar will be converted to ‘full restaurant service’ with covers doubling to 60 TV screens for sport and regular local DJ nights more of a community vibe – not that we weren't anyway – but it’s much more plush," he added Ginger Wings will offer a new cocktail menu after Jack ‘poached’ the 'amazing barman' from his father “The whole building is changing,” Jack said “We’ve got more extensive menus than just your chicken wing shop but Marlow will be our blueprint for hopefully the next five to 10 shops so we're bringing that fun fast food element but much more refined.” The restaurant’s proposed opening date is May 11 which could mean an exceptionally busy week for the pair due to the company’s involvement in Marlow’s Pub in the Park event Ginger Wings will offer a reduced menu from its food truck – a converted ambulance called Mother Hen – with eight DJs playing over the weekend at Higginson Park Jack said the restaurant will be open for drinks and after parties between the event dates and 'we’re the first party you get to when you leave' is the former head chef at Marlow Bar and Grill who believed there was ‘more to life in cooking than fine dining’ before focusing their attention on chicken “We're known for doing experimental flavours on top of wings and chicken “There are a lot of other places doing really good wings but we want to be the first posh gourmet chicken restaurant.” Food and Drink Maidenhead to Marlow trains will be cancelled for eight days over the Easter period while track repair and replacement work is carried out by Network Rail Trains between Maidenhead and Marlow will be cancelled for eight days over the Easter period while track repair and replacement work is carried out by Network Rail From Saturday 12 April until Sunday 20 April (Easter Sunday) Cookham and Furze Platt - will see replacement bus services in operation while work is underway.  Network Rail lead portfolio manager Mark Parker said: “We're replacing track that's reached the end of its working life to help keep trains running for decades to come some extra noise and traffic in the area is unavoidable and we're sorry for any inconvenience which means less disruption to trains and people living near the railway.” GWR season tickets will be valid for use on the Henley-on-Thames to Twyford line which connects with the main Reading to London Paddington route Tickets will also be valid for use on Chiltern Railways and London Underground services between High Wycombe and London Marylebone and Paddington GWR station manager for Slough and Maidenhead Mian Sarwar said: “This improvement work forms part of an ongoing programme of maintenance helping to ensure we continue to provide consistent and reliable services “GWR will be providing replacement bus services between Maidenhead Bourne End and Marlow from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 April season tickets will also be valid for journeys on the line between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford for onward connections “Season tickets will also be valid with Chiltern Railways between High Wycombe and London Marylebone as well as London Underground services between Marylebone and Paddington “It’s important that customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements could make journey times much longer For the latest travel information visit the GWR website Traffic and Travel Inquiry into plan backed by director James Cameron begins after council rejected it over use of green-belt land Angela Rayner has been urged to give the green light to a project to build a £750m Hollywood-style film and TV studio to prove the creative industries are an “economic priority” a public inquiry into the project backed by the Avatar director James Cameron has heard will make a final decision on the proposed development of Marlow Film Studios based on a report produced after the inquiry into the project’s planning application The hearings began on Tuesday and Rayner’s decision is seen as a test of Labour’s approach to planning and the creative industries The proposed development of Marlow Film Studios was turned down by Buckinghamshire council last May The council cited concerns including over the impact on the road network and use of green-belt land In October, Rayner called in the rejected planning application for the studio complex which has received high-profile backing from film-makers including Cameron and the 1917 director Sam Mendes who is the great nephew of Ian Fleming and an executive partner of the James Bond creator’s estate On the first day of the month-long public inquiry into the application which will provide the report and a recommendation to Rayner the counsel for the project immediately characterised the ultimate decision as a test of Labour’s commitment to grow the UK creative industries “The new Labour government has made it clear that enhancing the UK film and TV industry is a central economic priority,” Sasha White KC said “If the UK government is serious about championing the creative industries then Marlow Film Studios can fulfil that objective It is no exaggeration to say that this proposal is a gamechanger for the economic health of the county White pointed to Labour’s sweeping reforms to planning including ordering councils to review their green-belt boundaries by identifying lower quality “grey belt” land that could be built on A CGI illustration of the planned Marlow Film Studios Photograph: Marlow Film Studios“The site is designated as part of the green belt,” he said [we] will argue that the site is land newly conceived by the Labour government as ‘grey belt’ unambitious and frankly shortsighted approach of this council.” The legal team representing Buckinghamshire council and a lawyer for campaign groups including Save Marlow argued that the developers’ forecasts of future booming growth in the UK production industry are unfounded the home to the Bond franchise and Disney’s UK production hub putting on hold expansion plans for which it was granted council permission in 2022 Last month, developers scrapped plans for nearby Wycombe Film Studios because of market uncertainty, instead opting to build a datacentre. Free daily newsletterGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning “The council supports the government’s growth agenda,” said Simon Bird “It is not a blocker of growth when it is proposed in the right location It is inherently difficult to predict demand The council is not satisfied that a demonstrable need exists.” Under the appeals process the Planning Inspectorate can conduct an inquiry (or hearings) and the secretary of state has the power to determine an appeal or recover an appeal at any stage until the planning inspector has issued their decision Any further appeal would then be through a judicial review application to the high court the secretary of state can call in a planning application for any reason but in practice very few applications are called in each year Scores of people attended the first day of a public inquiry into the plans – earmarked for land near the River Thames and next to the A404 in Little Marlow Questions over greenbelt protections and the ‘need’ for Marlow Film Studios have been thrashed out at the start of a public inquiry into the plans scores of people turned out at Buckinghamshire Council’s offices in High Wycombe to hear the opening arguments for and against it Marlow Film Studios was refused by the council in May last year but its developers Dido Property Ltd appealed the decision to government body the Planning Inspectorate Deputy PM Angela Rayner will add her name to the credits of the studio’s saga when she decides whether to give the go-ahead or call it a wrap Marlow Film Studios’ fate hangs on whether planning authorities decide protections on the greenbelt land it is earmarked for should be surrendered to permit development barrister Sasha White KC - representing the developer – outlined a case to sidestep the very special circumstances test by redefining the site as greybelt Mr White said new planning laws meant development on the studio site – which he described as ‘landfill and former gravel pits’ – could no longer be considered ‘inappropriate’ Discussions over greybelt land – such as disused car parks in the greenbelt – have re-emerged under Labour’s bid to boost development and push through stalled plans Harm to greenbelt land is a key reason for the council’s refusal - and one which many of the studios’ opponents have put front and centre of their cause Concerns have also been raised over its impact on traffic at the Westhorpe Interchange linking Marlow and Little Marlow with the A404 said that the site ‘contributes strongly’ to the greenbelt; being part of an ‘essential gap’ stopping Marlow and Bourne End from merging He said the studios’ ‘dense grid of large-scale industrial buildings,’ which included some ‘over 15 metres in height’ would cause ‘significant harm’ to the openness of the area Speaking on behalf of Little Marlow Parish Council and campaign group Save Marlow’s Greenbelt barrister Claire Nevin said the site was of ‘significant recreational and biodiversity value’ Film and TV makes a considerable contribution to the UK economy – Buckinghamshire Council’s own evidence said £4.7billion was spent to date by productions in the UK And it is an industry the government has committed to support having announced a raft of tax breaks for independent film makers in October Mr White made a direct appeal to the government at the inquiry when he said if the UK government was ‘serious about championing this industry’ the plans would help ‘deliver that objective’ would be ‘a Grade A state-of-the-art film studio to attract the best and most valuable productions in the world’ “The business case for the scheme could not be more compelling,” Mr White added Marlow Film Studios has enjoyed the backing of big names in film and TV like Titanic director James Cameron and Venom director Andy Serkis Though it has also faced objections from thousands of residents and campaigners - and at the inquiry Mr Bird hit back at the economic case for a new studio Mr Bird said the council ‘recognises the need to ensure that the UK’s world leading economic sectors He added: “It is not a blocker of growth when it is proposed in the right location.” Buckinghamshire Council has greenlit an expansion at the internationally renowned Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath It also approved plans for Wycombe Film Studios in Booker around five miles away from the proposed Marlow Film Studios site These projects have both hit stumbling blocks: Pinewood has pressed pause on expansion and Wycombe Film Studios has been scrapped and could be redeveloped into a data centre.  Mr Bird said the council was ‘not satisfied that a demonstrable need exists’ for more film studio space “Rather than the supply of sound stage space the more pressing issue appears to be a skills shortage,” he said chaired by planning inspector Katie McDonald More information can be found on Buckinghamshire Council’s website Planning A crowd of people showed up to a Marlow Town Council meeting on Tuesday in support of banning smartphones in schools 20 parents used public question time to express their great concern over the mental health and academic prospects of their children many on the cusp of entering secondary school a clinical psychologist and someone working in the tech industry – all in agreement Local campaigners with Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) Members are deeply worried by children developing phone addiction having unfettered access to harmful content More than 700 families across Marlow and Cookham have joined SFC WhatsApp parent chats for Buckinghamshire and individual schools The group has created a Smartphones in Schools survey for all Marlow parents and they are actively speaking to local schools about removing smartphones from school Cookham primary school headteachers released a joint statement supporting the Smartphone Free Childhood initiative They are advising parents to delay buying their children a smartphone until they reach 14 and it is their ambition to promote their own schools as ‘smart’ free part of the group representing primary schools in Marlow she said one of their frustrations is the inconsistency of smartphone policies between secondary schools whereas others still occasionally ask students to use their phones for assignments – leading to increased distraction “What we want to look at is what the barriers are to getting that consistency,” said Kate the town council now seeks to ‘commit council support as a top priority’ to Marlow schools and community groups Deputy mayor and chairman of the environment and wellbeing committee read from the town council’s smartphones and children statement: a staggering 97 per cent of children in the UK own a smartphone “The average UK 12-year-old now spends 29 hours a week – equivalent to a part-time job – on their smartphone “New research shows the younger a child receives their first smartphone “Constant notifications and social media distract the entire class and cause a state of continuous partial attention “The mere presence of a silent smartphone on a desk or even hidden in a bag results in significant cognitive performance decline “We can no longer ignore the growing data highlighting the negative impact of smartphones on young people’s emotional and social development he has seen first-hand the effect of smartphones in schools and it was a ‘horrible journey’ for his family He also remarked on the unprecedented number of members of the public in the council hall “I don’t think we have ever had as many people turn up [and speak] at a council meeting,” he said But he stressed that the town council ‘can’t go into a school and tell them what to do’ acknowledging that schools have various restraints that can make it difficult to make changes the town council seeks to provide schools looking to introduce smartphone restrictions with ‘more confidence’ to do so Cllr Stapley believes Marlow Town Council is the first town or parish council in the UK to pledge its support to crack down on smartphones in schools Education Marlow is set to welcome a brand-new addition to its vibrant market scene as the Duck Pond Market opens in Liston Court Gardens on Saturday This exciting new market will showcase an array of artisanal food and handcrafted goods Known for its commitment to championing independent makers Duck Pond Market brings together producers and crafters to offer visitors a unique shopping experience that will complement the existing market offerings in Marlow Duck Pond Market is already well-established in locations including Chiswick Ruislip and Richmond and founder Caron Pook has long envisioned bringing the concept to Marlow ‘Marlow has such a fantastic community spirit and I’ve wanted to bring Duck Pond Market here for some time and I truly believe the market will add something special to the town giving both residents and visitors a chance to discover beautiful ethical goods while supporting small businesses.’ The market will take place in Liston Court Gardens providing a welcoming space for shoppers to explore everything from artisan cheeses and handmade chocolates to unique homewares and gifts Duck Pond Market promises to become a much-loved fixture in Marlow Senior Marketing Manager at Sorbon Estates commented: ‘We’re thrilled to welcome Duck Pond Gardens to Marlow It will be a fantastic addition to the existing offerings available in the town and will provide residents and visitors with even more reasons to explore and enjoy all that the area has to offer.’ For community organisations interested in using Liston Court Gardens for their events please contact Marlow Town Council at 01628 484024 or email office@marlow-tc.gov.uk Duck Pond Market will be at Liston Court Gardens every second and fourth Saturday of the month from 10am to 3pm Season 2 of the hit show is going to look a little different from the first - here's the changes viewers can expect to see If you're excited for The Marlow Murder Club season 2 you'll be even more enamoured when you hear about the upcoming changes to the show's second outing the series takes 'cosy' to an entirely new level it's highly likely The Marlow Murder Club is at the top of your viewing list With season 2 set to look a little different from season 1 we can reveal the differences you can expect when you tune in for more adventures of Judith because while season 1 consisted of two hour-and-a-half long episodes season 2 is coming in at lengthier six hour-long episodes This means instead of just the one story told the first time around season 2 will tell three different stories with two episodes dedicated to each different tale There's also some fresh writers on board for season 2 Robert Thorogood wrote the entire season 1 adaptation and this time he's penned the first two episodes which cover his Death Comes to Marlow novel Lucia Haynes taking the helm for penning episodes three to four and Julia Gilbert wrote episodes five and six Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news expert advice on styling and beauty trends and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered For those interested in key plot points for season 2 Samantha Bond lifted the lid on what to expect "You’ve got a posh murder that happens at Sir Peter Bailey’s house which is an incredible journey of how the women "And then there’s a mystery set in a more modest bit of Marlow where one murder happens right at the beginning and then another body is discovered and might there—or might not there—be a link And the third one is at the sailing club." She also enthused about the kindness of the people of Marlow who welcomed the cast and crew to the area accommodating their requests with no complaints "The people of Marlow are extraordinary," she says "They could have got really fed up with us for taking over the town running around their streets and closing their cafes They walk past you in the street and thank you." There's also some high profile names set to guest star in The Marlow Murder Club season 2 to ramp up excitement for the show even more Samantha Bond (Judith) revealed she's already worked with James Wilby (Sir Peter Bailey) and Caroline Langrishe (Lady Bailey.) "You get these incredible actors coming to join you but because a lot of us are in our mature years now a lot of the guests I’ve known forever It’s like welcoming an old friend," she said Jo Martin (Suzie) had already worked with Hugh Quarshie (Professor Gifford.) "I worked with Hugh many moons ago on The Murder Of Stephen Lawrence we were playing neurosurgeons in Holby City so it was lovely when I heard he was stepping up because he’s such a lovely man," she said Lucy WigleyEntertainment WriterLucy is a multi-award nominated writer and blogger with seven years’ experience writing about entertainment Lucy worked as a freelance writer and journalist at the likes of PS and moms.com before joining GoodtoKnow as an entertainment writer The pull to return to the world of television was strong and she was delighted to take a position at woman&home to once again watch the best shows out there and tell you why you should watch them too we’d love to know what your overall experience was like working on The Marlow Murder Club Cara: It was really nice returning for a second season we didn’t have to put as much work into getting familiar with each other and the characters Marlow makes the shoot pleasurable because you're in ideal locations And it's just nice to be back with the old team writers and directors I totally agree—It felt nice to come back to it it was lovely not having to build friendships from scratch as we'd done a lot of the groundwork in the previous season Jo: The cast and crew have now become a family because everyone from season 1 has returned for season 2 Because the first series was based on Robert [Thorogood] 's books they've got new writers with amazing new stories And since we're all good at comedy they've leaned into the humour a bit more—that's been really fun to play were there any plot twists that took you by surprise it's a slightly different setup this season because we've got 6 episodes and three separate murder stories So unlike season 1 where they're all interlinked and it comes to one crescendo and it was really fun to work on them as separate entities because they are all set in different locations and involve different guest stars which gives them their own individual feel particularly with the second story in episodes 3 and 4 I really didn't see that murderer coming at all Jo: They all take me by surprise… I'm just like what I must have read one of them and misunderstood something or skipped a page by mistake because when we did the table read I was like These plot twists are incredible—I'm just like the whole plot is about a guy who dies in a locked room your role as Suzie is very different from some of the other roles you've played so what drew you into this role and what can we expect from character development in Season 2 Jo: You wouldn’t expect someone of Suzie’s age to be thrown into something new It's unusual and I've never been offered something like it before I get to solve crimes alongside other women and I'm not the sidekick of another man!  she's got her daughter who has been her absolute world and suddenly she's faced with the fact that she's going off to university And I think she is trying to hold her back which isn't a positive thing for Suzie as she has to let go… But as I always say What drew you to the role and what can we expect from your character arc development in season 2 to admit needing help and having the ladies to lean on Their working relationship was a huge benefit to DS Malik— it helped her believe she could do the job and find her voice So I think it's been quite nice for me (as I’m not a detective!) to figure out how to play the role as she's on her own journey and it’s been lovely having more confidence this season Are you able to tell us how your trio's relationship with DS Malik will change over the second season At the end of season 1 we saw you all get much closer.. it's interesting because the three women are not official police officers there’s only so far that they're supposed to go and these three women find a way to cross that line every time constantly trying to push the boundary of what they're allowed to do Their different personalities and their different standings within the community allows them to negotiate that boundary in different ways There are still moments where it's easier between them than other moments but there's definitely been an overall development in their closeness as Tanika trust them more we are all very happy as we’re celebrating a win My character is going mad and cuddling everyone I embrace Tanika and there’s a moment of maybe this is too much too soon and we’re not quite ready for that yet—but it is coming Which episode of season 2 are you most looking forward to the audience watching and why it’s episodes 3 and 4 as it's a slightly different setting to what we've seen before it gets more intimate and goes from the large-scale amazing houses that Marlow has to offer to something more domestic.  That's the first real taste we've had of that from Marlow Everyone expects amazing houses—and we have them don’t get me wrong—but this had a different vibe and I really didn't see the murderer coming either purely because it's set in one location in one house and the three women are guests at the party where the murder occurs so there's only a finite amount of people that it could be It's actually quite interesting to have that restriction like Murder on the Orient Express where it can only be someone in that location There's something kind of quite satisfying about figuring out the jigsaw pieces of who saw what Jo: Definitely episode 1—the guy who died in the locked room—that’s one of my absolute favourites could you tell us something that you'd love the audience to know that you never get asked Jo: How agile I am [laughs] I can still do the splits I did some martial arts and I think they need to write in some high kicks They're missing a trick is what I'm telling you If you could play a different character in the show I'm not quite there in terms of my of age for casting but she's a busy body and gets under people's skin and there’s something quite endearing about her because she's well-intentioned…I really love that character she's sort of irritating and funny at the same time I can't say who specifically because I'll be giving it away but one of the baddies who has murdered someone is acting like butter wouldn't melt…I think I could play that quite well I'd have to go for Brendan because he eats 75% of his way through this show—his desk is always covered in scampi fries and frazzles Can we expect more cliffhangers and a lot more excitement in season 2?  Cara: There' are cliffhangers at the end of each episode and I think the audience will have trouble guessing the murderer each time It was never who I thought it would be and that's half the fun of watching this genre working out who it is will very much keep you guessing The three ladies borders on Charlie's angels sometimes which I think we got flavours of in the first series It felt nice to be able to get a few more jokes in Our final question is which scene across the series would you say was the most fun to film Jo: In one episode we borrow a mobility scooter and while filming we were taken on a low rider through Marlow The stunt women did some amazing stuff and the way it was cut made it really look like we did it My son was on set that day and he couldn't tell when it was the stunt women and when it was us Watch The Marlow Murder Club on U&Drama Showcase Channels Freesat will process your data in accordance with our Privacy Notice EVERYONE TV DEVICES LIMITED, Triptych Bankside (North Building) artwork and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of their respective owners All rights reserved. 95% customers satisfied with Freesat as their TV provider: Based on an online YouGov Plc survey Fieldwork was undertaken between 28th March 2022 - 15th February 2023 The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). Over 100 channels: Number correct at the time of publishing HD and regional TV variants and radio channels.  View your previous Cookie Preferences The new run provides more of the mysteries and warm female friendship fans saw in season 1 The Marlow Murder Club arrived in 2024 with higher expectations and an even easier comparison, as it came from the creator of Death in Paradise, Robert Thorogood The author himself had even said that where Death in Paradise was his take on Hercule Poirot The Marlow Murder Club was his take on Miss Marple tying the two shows together even more firmly no external comparison is necessary – we've already seen the first season and know what to expect fans will ask how it stacks up with season 1 and Season 2 sees the central cast all return Jo Martin's Suzie and Cara Horgan's Becks now operating as an almost official trio notable in the local area and investigating more murders after their success in season 1 Natalie Dew is also back as DS Tanika Malik the acting lead investigator for the local police who over time becomes more and more willing to not only take advice from the trio but actually let them do official work on cases The biggest change-up this time around is the structure While season 1 was made up of two hour-and-a-half long episodes telling the story of one case season 2 is made up of six hour-long episodes When dealing with amateur detectives in the present day there's naturally slightly more wrangling when it comes to setting up the plot and getting it rolling the cases kick off when the police are called Having that extra time not only allows for these narrative requirements The character moments are a large part of the show's appeal and its USP The dynamic between the central trio is key otherwise they're just a crime-solving team like any other so its good that this new structure allows for those quieter moments to live and be developed with episodes 3-4 being written by Lucia Haynes and 5-6 being written by Julia Gilbert which is based on his own novel Death Comes to Marlow with the mystery being the most compelling but the puzzles they offer up feel slightly less engaging and they tend to feel more as though they're trying to fit things into the real world with all the implications and explanations that brings Thorogood understands that he's operating in a heightened reality and the plotting reflects that throughout all three there is a key tonal similarity The murders themselves are barely dwelt on the locations are all quaint and chocolate-boxy and everyone's doing pretty well for themselves by the look of things The biggest problems most of these characters have tend to be incredibly low stakes and difficult to engage with beyond a cursory level of interest Side plots revolve around characters going to art classes or dealing with difficult townspeople – it's all very nice but also a bit artificial and sometimes a little dull The first season at least had a bit of jeopardy when Judith became the target of a murderer herself but the dialogue can also feel quite mannered and unnatural at times This is perhaps where the Agatha Christie influences are most evident characters talk as if they're in one of her novels but not one which has been transplanted to the present day – one set firmly in the mid-20th century The comedy in particular is somewhat stilted Beyond one brilliant mobility scooter chase sequence and a couple of other moments of physical comedy it largely boils down to some rather cliched and lacklustre moments of 'banter' there's no doubt this second season gives fans what they're looking – some fun intricate murder mystery puzzles brought to life by a very game cast Martin and Horgan continue to prove their dedication to their roles likeable performances and clearly having fun while doing so and therefore proving to be the easiest character to root for The series has also attracted some big name guest stars this time around Nina Sosanya and Hugh Quarshie all popping up for case-of-the-week appearances Episodic crime dramas still clearly remain the a draw for TV actors Everything about this filming experience seems fun sunny suburban locations which really pop on screen to the lightness of the material in a way that's so infectious as to often override any doubts or critiques of the show's flaws if you tuned into The Marlow Murder Club season 1 enjoyed it and are hoping for a successful follow-up but there's no doubt that the show has effectively transitioned from a one-off novel adaptation into a continuing it seems likely we'll see plenty more jobbing character actors paying a trip to Marlow over the next few years – and for some The Marlow Murder Club season 2 will air on U&Drama and U from Wednesday 19th March at 8pm The Marlow Murder Club season 2 review: Takes cosy crime to new heights of cosinessThe new run provides more of the mysteries and warm female friendship fans saw in season 1 The Marlow Murder Club arrived in 2024 with higher expectations and an even easier comparison, as it came from the creator of Death in Paradise, Robert Thorogood The author himself had even said that where Death in Paradise was his take on Hercule Poirot no external comparison is necessary – we've already seen the first season and know what to expect the answer is that it's more of the same Samantha Bond, Jo Martin, Cara Horgan and Natalie Dew in The Marlow Murder Club. UKTVSeason 2 sees the central cast all return Jo Martin's Suzie and Cara Horgan's Becks now operating as an almost official trio It's a structure which suits the series there's naturally slightly more wrangling when it comes to setting up the plot and getting it rolling UKTVHaving that extra time not only allows for these narrative requirements The character moments are a large part of the show's appeal and its USP otherwise they're just a crime-solving team like any other and they tend to feel more as though they're trying to fit things into the real world Thorogood understands that he's operating in a heightened reality and the plotting reflects that UThe murders themselves are barely dwelt on and everyone's doing pretty well for themselves by the look of things Side plots revolve around characters going to art classes or dealing with difficult townspeople – it's all very nice There's very little of that nature here characters talk as if they're in one of her novels UKTVThe comedy in particular is somewhat stilted it largely boils down to some rather cliched and lacklustre moments of 'banter' there's no doubt this second season gives fans what they're looking – some fun UKTVThe series has also attracted some big name guest stars this time around in a way that's so infectious as to often override any doubts or critiques of the show's flaws Keep up to date with all the dramas - from period to crime to comedy By entering your details you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply but there's no doubt that the show has effectively transitioned from a one-off novel adaptation into a continuing it seems likely we'll see plenty more jobbing character actors paying a trip to Marlow over the next few years – and for some James HibbsDrama WriterJames Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism you are agreeing to site title privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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