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'Absolutely brilliant'BBC crime drama perfect for Ludwig fans is must-watch

The BBC mystery drama series first aired back in 1997 and stars the likes of Caroline Quentin, Alan Davies and Julia Sawalha.

[Alan Davies and Sheridan Smith]

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Jonathan Creek returned for a number of specials(Image: BBC)

The BBC crime drama follows an eccentric man using a unique way to solve crimes.

Jonathan Creek first aired back in 1997 and features Alan Davies playing the leading role as the unconventional puzzle-solver, similar to the new comedy crime drama, Ludwig.

While being a consultant for a famous stage magician, he's earned a plethora of knowledge which he uses to help impossible-seeming puzzles and crack complex murder cases.

He's called to help solve the baffling crimes by investigative journalist Maddy Magellan (Caroline Quentin), who discovers Jonathan's odd talent and quickly forms feelings towards him.

Written by David Renwick, viewers first saw Jonathan Creek run for four series before it ended in 2004.

[Jonathan Creek cast]

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The BBC crime drama first aired back in 1997(Image: BBC)

However, there were two specials after the programme ended, one in 2009 and the other in 2010.

There was a fifth season of the programme in 2014 when Alan Davies reprised his role as the eccentric crime solver, with one final special in 2016.

In the past, the actor confessed he'd be eager to return to the show again in the future, telling Radio Times three years ago that the programme 'changed his life'.

He commented: "People still ask if we're going to make more. If David wrote another script, I'd do it like a shot. The show changed my life. And it's the only BAFTA I've ever won."

[Jonathan Creek cast]

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Alan Davies confessed he'd be eager to return to the programme(Image: BBC)

Since the series first aired all those years ago, people have had nothing but praise, with many calling it 'one of the best' BBC shows of all time.

One person said: "Absolutely fantastic. I was hooked on this programme when it first came out, and now that I have it on DVD, I can see just how fantastic this series is. It's a completely different take on the usual crime-solving programme, and the solutions to puzzles are absolutely amazing."

Someone else commented: "One of the best comedy/mystery series ever. The first two seasons of this show, featuring Carolyn Quentin as Maddie Magellan, are just about perfect -- a combination of absurd humour and intriguing 'impossible' crimes."

[Jonathan Creek cast]

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The series has been highly praised over the years since it first aired(Image: BBC)

While a third added: "BRILLIANT!!! Well. I have just delved into this series, and I forgot how brilliantly it is written, and the stories are amazing, the plot is spotless."

As someone else shared: "Each episode starts off showing us impossible murders or other crimes, you have no idea how it has been done, and neither do the police on the show. So they bring in this scruffy magician who operates almost like a modern Sherlock Holmes, slowly piecing together slight clues leading to a grand reveal to conclude each episode."

Jonathan Creek is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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