Darby and Joan is an Australian cozy murder mystery, crime comedy drama television series starring Bryan Brown and Greta Scacchi about a retired Australian detective and an English nurse who work together to solve the mystery of her husband's recent death. The title alludes to the proverbial mutually devoted couple Darby and Joan. The series was announced in 2021 and began streaming on UKTV and Acorn TV from 8 August 2022. The eight part series was created by Glenys Rowe and Phillip Gwynne and filmed in Queensland across the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Redland City, North Stradbroke Island, Mount Isa and Cairns. On 7 June 2024 the series was renewed for a second series. The second series of the show began airing from 30 December 2024.
Synopsis Widowed English nurse Joan Kirkhope is on a quest to find answers about her husband's mysterious death, while ex-detective Jack Darby has taken to the open road to escape his past. But when they collide in the Australian outback and become drawn into a series of mysteries, this unlikely investigative duo soon realize the most intriguing puzzle they face is each other.
Cast
Main Greta Scacchi as Joan Kirkhope Bryan Brown as Jack Darby Jolene Anderson as Detective Inspector Liz Darby, Jack Darby's daughter
Guests (Series 1) Heather Mitchell as Rosemary, Jack Darby’s ex-fiancée (3 episodes) Anna McGahan as Rebecca Kirkhope, Joan's daughter (S1 & 2) John Waters as Ian Kirkhope (in flashbacks), Joan's deceased husband Adrienne Pickering as Lucy Kirkhope (1 episode) Angie Milliken as Felicity Ann Kemp (1 episode) Caroline Gillmer as Denise (2 episodes) Casey Donovan as voice of Australian Sat Nav Christopher James Baker as Curtis (2 episodes) Kaarin Fairfax as Heidi (1 episode) Kerry Armstrong as Summer (2 episodes) Ling-Hsueh Tang as Cinta (1 episode) Peter O'Brien as Chris (1 episode) Rachel Ward as English Sat Nav (1 episode) Rarriwuy Hick as Tegan (1 episode) Robert Coleby as Ascher (1 episode) Steve Bisley as Declan Kemp (1 episode) Todd Lasance as Riley Harrington (1 episode) Todd MacDonald as Nick (1 episode) Molly Belle Wright as Bella (3 episodes)
Guests (Series 2)
Sigrid Thornton as Miranda McNeil (6 episodes) Brett Climo as Mick Riley (5 episodes) John Jarratt as Bill Carlton Debra Lawrance as Anna Bairnsdale (1 episode) Miriama Smith as Sophie Bairnsdale (5 episodes) Pia Miranda as Silvia Gary Sweet as Ellory Malcolm (episode 1) Martin Sacks as Doug Malcolm (episode 1) Steve Bastoni as Chris Steele (5 episodes) Lisa Hensley as Maxine Nelson Marcus Graham as Dermot Lincoln Chris Haywood as Shane Cozens
Episodes
Series 1
Series 2 +No.TitleDirected ByWritten byRelease dateABC release dateViewersRef9"Episode 1"Jovita O'ShaughnessyDavid Hannam30 December 202416 March 2025689,00010"Episode 2"Andrew Anastasios23 March 2025651,00011"Episode 3"Grant BrownDavid Hannam6 January 202530 March 2025659,00012"Episode 4"Giula Sandler13 January 20256 April 2025604,00013"Episode 5"Rachel WardStephen Vagg20 January 202513 April 2025591,00014"Episode 6"Sarah Smith27 January 202520 April 2025513,000
References
External links "Darby and Joan, Acorn TV