Mysteries

The Hairdresser Mysteries aired its latest episode on Friday, where viewers instantly recognised one guest star

The Hairdresser Mysteries fans were left doing a double take as they instantly recognised a guest star on Friday’s episode.

Jim Cartwright’s six-part cosy detective series launched earlier this month with all episodes available to watch on BBC iPlayer and weekly instalments on Fridays at 2pm.

The new series sees Sally Phillips plays main character, Lily Petal, who is forced to turn from hairdresser to amateur detective when crimes keep happening in the sleepy village.

She is helped in her investigations by brilliant analytical hair salon assistant Clary Coombs, played by Charlotte Jordan, and eager PC Adam Watson, played by Ben Castle-Gibb.

A synopsis for Friday’s episode, which was series one, episode three, read: “As the village prepares for a celebratory concert at the theatre, Lily and Clary realise the sudden death of one of the acts is not what it seems. Singer Heather Small guest-stars.”

Viewers were left open-mouthed during the episode as they instantly recognised one of the episode’s guest stars. In the instalment, Gabrielle Glaister played Mrs Rind.

Gabrielle, 65, is best known for playing Patricia Farnham in Brookside from 1990 to 1996. Other roles include Trish Wallace in Family Affairs, Cora Blyth in Death in Paradise and she also played Bob/Kate/Bobbie Parkhurst in several episodes of Blackadder. Soap watchers will also recall she played Hilary Benshaw in Emmerdale in 2019.

Taking to Twitter, now X, one person said: “#thehairdressermysteries Anyone else recognise Gabrielle Glaister from Brookside and Blackadder ? (Mrs Rind).”

A different account put: “I’m surprised at the calibre of actors that #TheHairdresserMysteries have attracted.”

Another show watcher commented: “Watching the first episode of #TheHairdresserMysteries and I absolutely love it! So many talented actors I recognise, such a cosy atmosphere too. And it’s filmed in the beautiful West Midlands! More plans!”

Gabrielle isn’t the only recognisable guest star as just last week Coronation Street legend Wendi Peters appeared as Gloria Crudd in the series.

Wendi, 58, is best known for playing Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street from 2003 to 2007, she returned to the cobbles once again in 2014.

The Hairdresser Mysteries airs on Fridays at 2pm and all episodes are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

The Hairdresser Mysteries made its debut last week and today will air the BBC show’s second episode

Coronation Street fans will be delighted to see a very familiar face on The Hairdresser Mysteries today.

The new Jim Cartwright BBC detective series started last week with episode available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer and they will also air weekly on Fridays at 2pm.

Today, Friday 24 July, sees the second episode of The Hairdresser Mysteries air where a synopsis teases: “When a celebrity weather reporter is found dead, Lily investigates if his zero-star reviews of all the local businesses have driven one of their own to murder.”

Sally Phillips plays main character, Lily Petal, who is forced to turn from hairdresser to amateur detective when crimes keep happening on her doorstep in the sleepy village.

She is helped in her investigations by brilliant analytical hair salon assistant Clary Coombs, played by Charlotte Jordan, and eager PC Adam Watson, played by Ben Castle-Gibb.

On Friday’s episode, viewers were introduced to Gloria Crudd, who is another newcomer to the village hoping to make a fresh start with her ice cream parlour but soon finds her old life catching up with her.

Coronation Street legend Wendi Peters plays Gloria Crudd in the series. Wendi, 58, is best known for playing Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street from 2003 to 2007, she returned to the cobbles once again in 2014.

On the show, Wendi looks worlds away from Cilla as her character Gloria has a pastel pink copper coloured curly beehive hairdo adorned with jewellery pieces.

However, Wendi isn’t the only Coronation Street star in the new series as she is joined by fellow Weatherfield favourite Charlotte Jordan who is playing Clary Coombs – Lily’s ‘bright and analytical assistant and the Watson to her Shear-lock Holmes’.

Charlotte, 32, is best known for playing Daisy Midgeley on the cobbles from 2020 to 2025, where her character was involved in several huge storylines including the hard-hitting acid attack plot.

Viewers have already shared their praise for the new series as one person said on Twitter, now X: “Watching the first episode of #TheHairdresserMysteries and I absolutely love it! So many talented actors I recognise, such a cosy atmosphere too. And it’s filmed in the beautiful West Midlands! More plans!”