Obituary, which was created by Ray Lawlor for RTÉ and first aired in 2023, is coming soon to ITVX – and it sounds like it'll be one that fans of shows like Dexter and Sweetpea shouldn't miss out on. The comedy-thriller is set in a small Irish town, and stars Siobhán Cullen (The Dry, Bodkin) as Elvira Clancy, who writes obituaries for the local newspaper.
The synopsis for the series reveals that when she's moved to a "pay-per-death" structure, Elvira "discovers she has a hidden talent for murder".
"By eliminating the town's most unlikable residents, she ensures both her job security and a steady stream of creative writing, all while trying to evade the suspicions of the town's handsome new crime reporter," it adds.
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Obituary ran for two seasons, and the first will become available on ITVX as a box set on 24 May, as part of what ITV describes as its commitment to "distinctive, 'word-of-mouth' hits that blend high-stakes crime with razor-sharp satire".
The critically-acclaimed thriller currently sits with a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, with many season one reviews drawing comparisons to Dexter. "Imagine Dexter meets Bad Sisters, with a chilling yet somehow quite likeable lead performance from Cullen, and you won’t be far off," wrote Empire.
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"Obituary is one delightful, properly Gothic (ahem) and somewhat disturbing first season of TV, as in, I really hope we have more seasons of this gem," said Pajiba.
Audience reactions on Rotten Tomatoes were also full of praise, with one branding Obituary "excellent all around", praising its "good acting, good story, [and] many twists".
"Can't recommend this enough," another viewer wrote. "Great characters and with a great twisting storyline."
The cast also includes Michael Smiley (Bad Sisters, Bloodlands), Ronán Raftery (Gangs of London, The Rook), and Danielle Galligan (House of Guinness, The Walsh Sisters). Máiréad Tyers (Extraordinary, My Lady Jane) also joined in the second season.
It's a good day for thriller fans, as Netflix has also announced that a brand-new Harlan Coben series is on the way – with Michelle Keegan once again joining the cast, after previously starring in Fool Me Once.
The Woods, which stars Tom Bateman, is centred on one man's search for his missing sister, with him reuniting with his first love as they search for answers together.
Obituary season 1 will be available to stream on ITVX from 24 May, 2026.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
