Following on from the pilot episode last year, Mma Precious Ramotswe returns with her Ladies’ Detective Agency for six hour long episodes on a Sunday evening (BBC1). From the moment the title credits appear on screen (which are sympathetic to the book covers by Alexander McCall Smith), to the beautifully shot landscape and the dusty but colourful town, The No1 Ladies' Detective Agency does not disappoint.
Last night was the second episode (if you missed it you can catch up with BBC iplayer) and it is fair to say that I am hooked. Now I haven’t read the books (I tried but failed) so I don’t know how they compare or if the storylines are the same (anyone know?) but the first episode concerned a missing dog, an odd dentist who has good days and bad and a missing husband. These plotlines are hardly edge of the seat stuff, but they still hook you in and transport you to small town life in Botswana. There are some darker subjects that are also lightly touched upon. For example last night's episode involved, amongst other things, ivory smuggling.
Jill Scott who plays Mma Ramotswe is great but the supporting cast shine also. I love Mma Makutsi who is Ramotswe's secretary in particular (for a detailed list of characters click here). Each episode has its own mystery but gradually we are getting to know more and more about the lives of the supporting characters.
Already I am hoping there will be a second series.
