Sounds Familiar

“I’ve had a long life and I will say, in many respects, it’s been a good one. I’ve expected to die on many occasions before now. You might even say that death has been a companion of mine, always two steps behind. Now he’s caught up.” – Fictional Detective Atticus Pünd (Tim McMullan), receiving some unfortunate news from his doctor, MAGPIE MURDERS on MASTERPIECE

Wednesday Trivia Question

Who played the creator of Sherlock Holmes in the series ARTHUR & GEORGE?

The three-part series ARTHUR & GEORGE was based on the 2005 novel of the same name by author Julian Barnes. It aired in 2015 in the UK and later that year in the US as part of MASTERPIECE.

The story was inspired by the true case of the “Great Wyrley Outrages” in which a parson’s son, George Edalji, was convicted in a case of livestock maiming. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, believed the man to be innocent and set about to prove it by turning detective.

Arsher Ali (THE GUILTY) co-starred as George but the main draw was the actor who portrayed Doyle. Said actor is known to PBS NC audiences, having appeared in several programs we’ve aired.

So who was it? Who starred as Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, in the MASTERPIECE series ARTHUR & GEORGE?

Where Do I Know That Actor?

Based on the books by G. K. Chesterton, FATHER BROWN is a British mystery series that has been around since 2013. That’s ten seasons of Kembleford murders that only the village priest seems to be able to solve. Along the way, we’ve met criminals and victims, police detectives and parish regulars, all linked by the titular prying padre. And some of those faces are familiar to PBS NC viewers from other programs. But who’s who? Let’s find out…

To start off, Mark Williams stars as Father Brown. He may be best known to the world at large as Ron Weasley’s father in the Harry Potter film franchise but he’s been seen in a few shows we’ve aired over the years. Williams played Sir John Middleton in a 2008 adaptation of Sense And Sensibility. A year earlier, he portrayed Mr. Beebe in A Room With A View. About 20 years back, he was Professor Perch in the fantasy series Gormenghast. In the late 80s, he popped up as a semi-regular in the sketch comedy series Alexei Sayle’s Stuff and appeared as Lister’s crewmate Peterson in the Britcom Red Dwarf.

My Top Five: Favorite Mystery! Series

In the beginning, there was MASTERPIECE THEATRE. When that anthology program proved successful, PBS premiered its sister series MYSTERY! Over the years, MYSTERY! (and, yes, I will include that exclamation point every single time) has given us loads of exceptional detectives and amazing sleuths and introduced many viewers to great stories from Agatha Christie, P.D. James, Colin Dexter and others. With so many to chose from, it’s difficult to pick a handful of faves. But I knew the job was dangerous when I took it. So I set out to make that difficult choice.

For starters, I kept it old school. I’m speaking strictly of the original MYSTERY! series, pre-merger with MASTERPIECE THEATRE in 2007. That means gems like SHERLOCK, ENDEAVOUR and MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE were ineligible (however, series that spanned both like INSPECTOR LEWIS were fair game). I also kept it solely, as this exercise in opinion suggests, in the realm of what I’ve personally viewed and what I personally liked. This is not a “best of” list or a ranking of the critically acclaimed.

Simply put, this is MY favorite Top Five. At best, it’s a starting point for a discussion, as are all lists of this nature.

So here we go. MY TOP FIVE FAVORITE MYSTERY! SERIES…

5) POIROT. Agatha Christie’s Belgian sleuth with his little grey cells has been portrayed on radio, film and television by a variety of actors including Kenneth Branagh, Peter Ustinov, Alfred Molina, John Malkovich, Tony Randall, Orson Welles, Albert Finney and Ian Holm. But PBS viewers know the definitive portrayal is none other than David Suchet. He truly embodied Christie’s eccentric investigator for over two decades.

Sounds Familiar

“Now let’s get to the bottom of all this aristocratic flummery.” – DCI Endeavour Morse (John Thaw), INSPECTOR MORSE

Where Do I Know That Actor?

MIDSOMER MURDERS continues its latest series of eccentric killings in the idyllic English countryside. This week, things got small with “The Miniature Murders” in which a real estate agent is shot in front of a crowd at the unveiling of a new dollhouse collection at the Midsomer Museum of the Family. But have no fear as DCI Barnaby is on the case (thank goodness for small mercies, eh?).

There were also a trio of guest stars worth mentioning. Let’s see who’s who, shall we?

To start, Clare Holman played Fiona Beauvoisin, estranged wife of the deceased. She will be best known for her role of Dr. Laura Hobson on Inspector Morse and Inspector Lewis. She also appeared as Elizabeth Lukic in Prime Suspect 6 and Felicity Dorr in Island At War. By the way, this is her third MM guest spot, so kudos!

Sounds Familiar

“What about you, are you religious?”

“Yeah. I pray every night you’ll stop asking me questions.”

– DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) and DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant), BROADCHURCH

Wednesday Trivia Question

On what MYSTERY series would you see Agatha Christie’s Prudence L. Cowley?

Ah, MYSTERY! From that fabulous open with those Edward Gorey illustrations to the inspired introductions from the like of Vincent Price and Diana Rigg, longtime PBS viewers and whodunnit fans will no doubt have fond memories of this anthology series. Now, the MYSTERY brand is part of MASTERPIECE and Alan Cumming has the host honors but it’s a far cry from the glory days of the 80s and 90s (speaking merely of presentation and not the content).

Over the decades, we’ve been treated to such memorable characters as Endeavour Morse, Rumpole of the Bailey, Adam Dalgliesh, Albert Campion, Brother Cadfael and Hetty Wainthropp. For those who applaud Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock, there are those for whom the quintessential adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Baker Street detective begins and ends with Jeremy Brett.

Where Do I Know That Actor?

MIDSOMER MURDERS is back for a new series of … well, Midsomer Murders. This week, fancy footwork is the theme when a former ballroom-dance champion is found dead after the opening gala of the Paramount Dance Extravaganza. DCI Barnaby better solve this one quickly since his dad’s in town and that’s a can of dysfunctional worms that could be a mystery unto itself.

Viewers were also treated to a quintet of familiar faces (some very familiar) that provided supporting roles. Let’s see who’s who…

We’ll start with Nigel Havers who played wealthy businessman Andrew Wilder. The veteran actor was once a staple of British fare on public television. Between 1980 and the early 90s, Havers appeared as Randolph Churchill in Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years, Bobby Shaw in Nancy Astor, Roy Calvert in Strangers And Brothers, Lord Elgin in Lord Elgin And Some Stones Of No Value, Carrisford in A Little Princess, Thomas Quayne in The Death of the Heart, Ralph Ernest Gorse in The Charmer, Jeremy Coward/Sergei Rublev in Sleepers and Hugh Fleming in A Perfect Hero. Since then, he’s had memorable guest roles as Lord Hepworth in Downton Abbey and, more recently, General Ransom in the new series of All Creatures Great And Small.

Where Do I Know That Actor?

MIDSOMER MURDERS is back (after a brief pledge interval) with “Till Death Do Us Part,” in which someone seems to be killing the local brides. Thankfully, Barnaby’s on the case. In addition to the deadly “I do” action, there were four somewhat familiar faces. Let’s see who’s who…

Michael Fox was quickly widowed groom Gavin Webster. He’s popped up on The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries and Endeavour but will no doubt be best known to PBS viewers as footman Andy on the Masterpiece hit series Downton Abbey.