Vix Leyton cast in comedy murder mystery podcast Murder of a Famous Bastard
Welsh comedian and broadcaster Vix Leyton appears in several episodes of Murder of a Famous Bastard, the comedy murder mystery podcast created by Mark Watson.
Leyton plays Leah Vicks, a Welsh gossip columnist drawn into a sprawling investigation involving a murdered television personality, a large cast of suspects and a private detective who has the added inconvenience of being under suspicion himself.
The role was written with Leyton in mind by Watson, who was also one of the first established comedians to encourage her when she began performing stand-up.
“Mark was the person who first spotted me as a comedian, so it was a lovely surprise to hear that he had written a character for me,” says Leyton.
“There is something very full circle about getting to work with someone who encouraged you early on, particularly on a project this ambitious. I was a massive fan of the show before I was in it - and my biggest worry is I would ruin it for myself because it’s so extraordinarily cringeworthy hearing your own voice. Thankfully the writing was so good, I got through it.”
What is Murder of a Famous Bastard?
Written by and starring Mark Watson, Murder of a Famous Bastard is an episodic comedy murder mystery following private detective Hugh Flounder.
Hugh is invited to the 60th birthday party of famous television personality Stevie Chase, but by the following morning someone is dead.
The case could be the opportunity Hugh has been waiting for, were it not for the fact that attending the party also places him among the suspects.
As the investigation unfolds, listeners meet a large ensemble of guests, witnesses and possible culprits, each with their own version of events and varying reasons for wanting the truth to remain unclear with an all star cast including Shapark Khorsandi, Rosie Holt, Alastair Beckett-King, Lulu Popplewell, Rufus Hound and Alex Horne.
The series combines a traditional whodunnit with character comedy and invites listeners to follow the clues, develop their own theories and attempt to solve the murder alongside Hugh.
Who is Leah Vicks?
Leah Vicks is a Welsh gossip columnist played by Vix Leyton.
Her work depends on knowing what public figures would rather keep private, making her a useful presence in a story built around secrets, reputations and competing accounts of what happened.
The character was created specifically for Leyton, drawing on her Welsh background and comic voice. She is, herself, from Cardiff and deeply regrets making the decision to do the whole thing in a Swansea accent.
Leyton is best known for stand-up, broadcasting and her work as a consumer finance commentator, where asking awkward questions and looking beyond the official version of events are already part of the job.
Her appearance in Murder of a Famous Bastard marks a move into scripted audio comedy alongside her live and broadcast work.
Watson was among the first established comedians to support Leyton when she began performing stand-up, making the podcast collaboration a particularly meaningful one.
Rather than casting her in an existing part, he wrote Leah Vicks with Leyton in mind.
For Leyton, the appeal was not only the chance to work with Watson, but to join a project that gives its characters and mystery room to develop across multiple episodes.
“It is a very generous thing to have someone write with your voice in mind,” she says.
“I also loved the scale of it. There are so many characters, motives and possible directions that you become just as interested in solving the mystery as the listeners are, with the extra element of not having anything beyond your lines so you could be the murderer yourself and not even know”
How to listen to Murder of a Famous Bastard
Murder of a Famous Bastard is available through major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The series is best heard from the opening episode, as the clues, relationships and suspicions build throughout the investigation.
Listeners can follow Hugh Flounder’s attempts to solve the murder while deciding which members of the cast are reliable, which are hiding something and who may have had a reason to kill him.
Who is Vix Leyton?
Vix Leyton is a Welsh stand-up comedian, broadcaster, writer and consumer finance commentator.
She appears as Leah Vicks in Murder of a Famous Bastard and is the creator of Chief Petty Officer, a comedy lecture examining history’s greatest grudges, revenge campaigns and acts of spectacular score-settling.
Following a UK work-in-progress tour, Chief Petty Officer will run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 6 to 16 August 2026 as part of the Laughing Horse Free Festival at West Nic Records.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vix Leyton in Murder of a Famous Bastard?
Yes. Vix Leyton plays Leah Vicks, a Welsh gossip columnist, in Mark Watson’s comedy murder mystery podcast.
Did Mark Watson write Leah Vicks for Vix Leyton?
Yes. Watson wrote the character with Leyton in mind, having first supported her when she began performing stand-up comedy.
What is Murder of a Famous Bastard about?
The podcast follows private detective Hugh Flounder as he investigates the murder of television personality Stevie Chase, despite being one of the suspects himself.
Where can I listen to Murder of a Famous Bastard?
The series is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major podcast platforms.
Is Murder of a Famous Bastard a comedy?
Yes. It combines a murder mystery with character comedy, an ensemble cast and an ongoing investigation that listeners can try to solve themselves, and there is a vibrant discord community.