Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club has been viewed more than 25 million times in the UK. That’s more than a sign of popularity - it’s proof that stories about later life resonate with all of us. In this article, written by Nick Jones, Director of Property & Operations this piece examines the film’s impact on the sector and shares his hopes for how it can inspire a broader, more positive conversation about ageing and community living in the future.
A Cultural Phenomenon With a Bigger Message
Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club has become a cultural phenomenon, streamed more than 25 million times in the UK alone. What began as a witty mystery set in a retirement village has grown into a bestselling series and global screen hit. Proof, if any were needed, that stories about later life resonate far more broadly than we often imagine.
It’s easy to be charmed by the eccentric characters, the unlikely sleuthing, and even the occasional nude life-drawing class, proof that retirement communities can be far livelier than stereotypes suggest. But Osman’s creation taps into something deeper: the possibilities of later life when community, purpose, and connection come together.
From Loneliness to Connection
One of the greatest challenges facing older adults today is loneliness. Age UK estimates 1.4 million people over 65 are often lonely. And the impact isn’t just emotional: isolation has been linked to higher risks of dementia, heart disease, and premature death.
Retirement communities are designed to be an antidote. Shared dining spaces, clubs, exercise classes, and chance encounters over coffee all create opportunities for friendship. A single conversation can turn a day of silence into one filled with laughter.
“The residential home as a theatre for action and intrigue seemed unlikely until you realise that these people had all had very diverse lives and the clientele a force of life experience. The Thursday Murder Club matched the determination and lack of respect for the law shown by the owner and the result was a witty and sometimes hilarious story… Thoroughly enjoyable.”
— LaVern, resident at Debden Grange
Creating Purpose, Not Just Solving Crimes
Purpose is a powerful driver of wellbeing in later life. Having a reason to get up in the morning, whether volunteering, running a club, or mentoring younger generations, can transform health and happiness.
In Osman’s stories, the club members don’t thrive because of the murders they solve, but because of the sense of purpose those investigations give them. Real-world retirement communities offer that same purpose, whether through organising cultural events, leading groups, or simply belonging to something bigger than oneself.
Health, Wellbeing, and Saving the NHS
Communities also provide tangible health benefits. Regular activity, walking groups, yoga, dance, boosts physical health. Cognitive stimulation, book clubs, discussion groups, puzzles all keep the mind sharp.
The evidence is compelling: residents in retirement communities use 38% fewer GP, nurse and hospital services than their peers in standard housing. That means fewer unplanned admissions, delayed need for residential care, and less strain on the NHS. Put simply: better living environments lead to healthier lives and they save taxpayers money.
Reframing Retirement Communities
Too often, retirement is seen as the end of something. In reality, it can be the beginning. The UK urgently needs to reframe later life: not as a burden, but as an opportunity.
Retirement communities aren’t simply places to live. They are part of the nation’s prevention infrastructure. Helping tackle two of our greatest challenges: supporting an ageing population and easing a chronic housing shortage.
A National Conversation We Need Now
If The Thursday Murder Club proves anything, it’s that retirement can be full of intrigue, friendship, and plot twists. The task for us is to ensure real communities offer the same excitement, minus the murders, of course.
The question is clear: how do we put retirement communities at the heart of tackling the challenges of an ageing population and the housing crisis?
That’s not just a conversation for tomorrow. It’s one we need to start today.
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