In the Creek​​​​​​​ Midwinter

Prepare to be bamboozled… Jonathan Creek is back to investigate a case of paranormal activity.

NEW DRAMA

Jonathan Creek

Wednesday 28 December, BBC1 HD, 9pm (nI, 10.50pm)

Long Before Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes hit our screens, there was another curly-haired detective seeking logical explanations for inexplicable mysteries.

Now, almost 20 years after his first investigation, Jonathan Creek is back to quash a few more superstitions as he investigates a series of historic unexplained deaths in a one-off Christmas special.

It’s been some two-and-a-half years since Creek was last on our screens, but star Alan Davies insists he was always happy to reprise the role.

‘It’s a fantastic part and as much as I like the idea of retiring, as long as writer David Renwick has ideas it would be remiss of me not to see them come to fruition,’ he says.

‘People enjoy the show, they always stop me to ask if it’s coming back and it’s very exciting to be on at Christmas as a big event.’

ORDINARY HERO 

Davies believes the ongoing appeal of the geeky sleuth lies in his ability to be heroic, but in a very ordinary way.