Jonathan Creek [1997-2010]

The lowdown: 'Jonathan Creek' stars Alan Davies as the title character, who designs illusions for stage
magician and serial womaniser Adam Klaus (Stuart Milligan). Creek also uses his expertise in the fields
of logical deduction and illusionism to solve baffling and seemingly impossible crimes. Many of the crimes
are murders, and often involve the classic "locked room" scenario, and Creek uses his skills to prove how
the crime was actually committed and that there was no magic involved. Creek is aided by investigative
journalist Maddy Magellan (Caroline Quentin) in the first three seasons. Maddy was replaced by theatrical
agent Carla Borrego (Julia Sawalha) in the final season, after Quentin left the show. Sawalha in turn was
replaced by Sheridan Smith as paranormal investigator Joey Ross in two feature-length specials when the
series was revived after five years. A total of 24 episodes and two specials were made over four seasons,
and broadcast on BBC1 between 10 May 1997 and 28 February 2004. Two further specials were broadcast
on 1 January 2009 and 4 April 2010.

The episode: 'The Wrestler's Tomb' was the first episode of the series, a two-part story that was broadcast
on BBC1 on 10 May 1997. It features Colin Baker as Hedley Shale, a philandering artist who specialises in
painting nude women. Hedley is shot dead in his own home, and as he had been having an affair, his wife -
fashion magazine editor Serena Shale - immediately falls under suspicion. However, she had been at work
at the time of his death, and her secretary could prove that Serena never left her office during the time Hedley
was being killed. Maddy Magellan teams up with Jonathan Creek to determine the truth about the death, and
as usual with good murder-mysteries, the most obvious suspect is not the guilty party. Baker is excellent in
his brief performance - he dies in the first ten minutes, although he makes another appearance in a flashback
near the end, when the killer is revealed. The title of the episode comes from the name of the Shales' home.

Who connections: Peter Davison appeared in the first episode of season two while Paul McGann was in the
Easter 2010 special. A number of other Who actors have also had guest roles. Anthony Head (School Reunion)
played Adam Klaus in the pilot. Mary Tamm and Maureen O'Brien have also been in the show, as have Geoffrey
Beevers (The Keeper of Traken), Bernard Kay (The Dalek Invasion of Earth and Colony in Space), Ian McNeice
(Victory of the Daleks), Michael Cochrane (Black Orchid) and Maureen Lipman (The Idiot's Lantern).

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