The Jonathan Creek Podcast

The Clue of the Savant’s Thumb was the last of three Jonathan Creek specials between the fourth and fifth seasons. Life has changed for Jonathan, but can Joey persuade him to solve one more mystery when a friend dies in bizarre circumstances. In this podcast Gerry and Iain contemplate giving up podcasting to wear suits and work in an office on tasks completely divorced from our known skills.

Rosalind Tartikoff (Joanna Lumley) has more than one death to concern herself with as she comes to terms with both a childhood trauma and the inexplicable disappearance of her husband Franklin’s dead body (Nigel Planer) from a locked room.

The Tartikoff’s adopted daughter Fariba (Hasina Haque) and her partner Brad (Mark Frost) play their part in prolonging the mystery, while family GP Peter Churchill (Michael Lumsden) has much to regret. This episode is perhaps best remembered as the one in which Jonathan’s new wife Polly (Sarah Alexander) is introduced.

The Clue of the Savant’s Thumb was written by David Renwick and he made his third and (so far) final visit to the director’s chair, along with a brief cameo as a TV interviewer. Rosemary McGowan continued as producer.

The Clue of the Savant’s Thumb was released in 2013. It is 90 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is missing from the collection on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, however the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.

The post The Clue of the Savant’s Thumb – Episode 30 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Judas Tree was the second of three Jonathan Creek specials between the fourth and fifth seasons. When a young woman’s sanity comes under threat, Jonathan and Joey must separate truth from fiction. In this podcast Gerry and Iain contemplate forming a band comprised entirely of dog whistles.

Hugo and Harriet Doré (Paul McGann and Sasha Behar) have vengeance on their minds when Emily (Natalie Walter) comes to work at their home. Despite the guidance of Mrs Gantry (Doreen Mantle), Emily begins to fear the memory of a previous occupant of her bedroom, the murderer Selima El Sharad (Sofia Hayat). There is a supporting role for the great Ian McNeice as the tragic Father Roderick Alberic.

The Judas Tree was written by David Renwick and he continued in the director’s chair. Rosemary McGowan began an as-yet-unbroken stint as producer in this episode.

The Judas Tree was released in 2010. It is 94 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.

The post The Judas Tree – Episode 29 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Grinning Man was the first of three Jonathan Creek specials between the fourth and fifth seasons. In the second half of the episode a woman is murdered before Joey’s eyes and a dead bird gives Jonathan a vital clue. In this podcast Gerry and Iain conclude their look at a classic episode.

In the second half of this episode Jenna Harrison’s Elodie meets a gruesome end at the hands of Lance Gessler (Nicholas Boulton); Delia Gunning (Julia Ford) doesn’t get the happy ending she anticipated; and Candy Mountains (Jemma Walker) has a surprise in store for Adam.

The Grinning Man was written by David Renwick and he also made his debut as director. Following the death of Verity Lambert, this special was produced by Nerys Evans.

The Grinning Man was released in 2009. It is 120 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.

The post The Grinning Man (2) – Episode 28 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Grinning Man was the first of three Jonathan Creek specials between the fourth and fifth seasons. When a girl disappears from a supposedly haunted attic, Jonathan must identify an fifty-year-old death trap. In this podcast Gerry and Iain discuss the underrated genius of hanging disturbing art in guest accommodations.

This episode introduces the brilliant Sheridan Smith as new sidekick Joey Ross as she travels with her friend Mina (Naomi Bentley) to a party. Following a breakdown they are rescued by Glen (Ciarán McMenamin) and taken to the home of Lance Gessler (Nicholas Boulton) and his mother Constance (Judy Parfitt) where they learn about a haunted attic that has claimed the lives of multiple guests since the time Constance’s father Jacques Futrelle (Jon Campling) owned the property. When Mina disappears after spending the night in the room Joey begins to investigate and Constance calls on Jonathan for aid.

The Grinning Man was written by David Renwick and he also made his debut as director. Following the death of Verity Lambert, this special was produced by Nerys Evans.

The Grinning Man was released in 2009. It is 120 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.

The post The Grinning Man (1) – Episode 27 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

Gorgons Wood was the final episode of Jonathan Creek‘s fourth season. After a mystical ancient statuette goes missing Jonathan and Carla must navigate a toxic case of sibling rivalry. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider the naming conventions for wooded areas in the United Kingdom.

Brother and sister Owen Glendower (Michael Cochrane) and Thelma Bailer (Celia Imrie) feud over a missing piece of porcelain which leads Thelma’s daughter Gillian (Alice Patten) down a dark, ultimately fatal, path. There were cameos for Brenda Cowling as a litigant claiming Adam Klaus hypnotised her through the television and for Bamber Gascoigne, ostensibly as himself. This was the final appearance of Julia Sawalha in the role of Carla Borrego.

Gorgons Wood was written by David Renwick and Sandy Johnson returned as director. Verity Lambert produced her final episode of the show, sadly passing away at the age of 71 before Creek returned from its hiatus.

Gorgons Wood was released in 2004. It is 60 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.

The post Gorgons Wood – Episode 26 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Chequered Box was the penultimate episode of Jonathan Creek‘s fourth season. When a top police officer is witnessed at the scene of a gruesome murder, Jonathan and Carla search for an alternative explanation. In this podcast Gerry and Iain ponder the dynamics of mobile toileting.

Inspector Fell (Colin McFarlane) and his colleague Herbie Bryant (Steve Speirs) are hot on the heels of justice after the unexplained death of a bookmaker, with Carla in tow filming a fly-on-the-wall documentary. Fell’s swift thinking impresses Carla as he explains this death effortlessly, but things take a sinister turn when journalist Hattie Baron (Myra McFadyen) witnesses him at the scene of a brutal murder.

The Chequered Box was written by David Renwick and the ubiquitous Sandy Johnson remained in the director’s chair (along with a brief cameo appearance as an A&E doctor). Verity Lambert remained as producer.

The Chequered Box was released in 2004. It is 60 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.

The post The Chequered Box – Episode 25 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Seer of the Sands was the fourth episode of Jonathan Creek‘s fourth season. After the death of her partner, an American executive struggles to interpret his messages from beyond the grave. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at the sound thinking behind sending a fake psychic to help win you major business contracts.

Executive Geraldine Vaccara (Lorelei King) mourns the loss of her skeptic partner Justin Mallory (Gary Cady) in a boating accident while a fraudulent ‘psychic’ (Eve Polycarpou) tries to convince her that messages are being sent from the afterlife. Meanwhile, creepy Ashley (Catherine Cusack) has a dark secret and Phylicia (Nicola Hughes) tries to influence Adam’s workplace practices.

The Seer of the Sands was written by David Renwick and Creek veteran Sandy Johnson returned to the director’s chair. Verity Lambert remained as producer.

The Seer of the Sands was released in 2004. It is 60 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.

The post The Seer of the Sands – Episode 24 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Tailor’s Dummy was the third episode of Jonathan Creek‘s fourth season. When the head of a major fashion house appears to commit suicide, Jonathan and Carla must uncover some family tensions to find the truth. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at creepy hoteliers and the value of a good safety chain.

This episode featured the brilliant Maureen Lipman as Louise Bergman, Nicholas Jones as her vengeful brother Claude and Jill Baker as odious conservative columnist Donna Henry. Bill Bailey reprised his role as Kenny Starkiss, Victoria Shalet played young Carrie Bergman and the victim, Marco Bergman, was briefly portrayed by Jeffrey Segal.

The Tailor’s Dummy was written by David Renwick and Christine Gernon helmed the last of her three Creeks. Verity Lambert remained as producer.

The Tailor’s Dummy was released in 2003. It is 60 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.

The post The Tailor’s Dummy – Episode 23 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

Angel Hair was the second episode of Jonathan Creek‘s fourth season. A famous composer and his pop star wife are shocked by a woman’s ability to re-grow her hair in just 48 hours. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at the challenges of combining hostage-taking with time travel and what to do with a 12-foot tall ventriloquist’s dummy.

The principal guests in this episode were Jack Dee as love rat Dudley Houseman and Sophie Thompson as his PA, Dorothy. They were supported by Caroline Carver as Dudley’s wife Sally Ellen Oakley, Trevor Peacock as Dudley’s father and dummy-maker Henry Houseman and Tamsin Greig as Pam, a make-up artist and stylist who Jonathan spends some time with during the show. David Renwick makes a cameo appearance during the kidnapping scene.

Angel Hair was written by Renwick and Christine Gernon once more directed, while Verity Lambert remained as producer.

Angel Hair was released in 2003. It is 60 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.

The post Angel Hair – Episode 22 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Coonskin Cap was the first episode of Jonathan Creek‘s fourth season. Jonathan and Carla are reacquainted over an apparent serial killer with a flair for the dramatic. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at deceptive appearances and working with your ex.

The episode re-introduced Julia Sawalah’s Carla Borrego as she and her new husband Brendan Baxter (Adrian Edmondson) work to produce a Crimewatch competitor TV show.

Inspector Ted Parnevik (Terence Hillyer) and his apparent love interest Sergeant Heather Davey (Anna Wilson-Jones) lead the police team trying to snare the perpetrator, while Moira Jane Rowe (Veronica Leer) makes a partial confession. Tina Martin also appears as the tragic Velma, who sadly dies on a night out with Adam Klaus.

The Coonskin Cap was written by the show’s creator, David Renwick. Christine Gernon directed, while Verity Lambert remained as producer.

The Coonskin Cap was released in 2003. It is 60 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.

The post The Coonskin Cap – Episode 21 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.