LUDWIG - wed bbc 1 9pm - TV PACE NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

New series on weekly - thanks @mum2jakie for the shout out

Puzzle setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor’s life is upended when his identical twin, DCI James Taylor, disappears in the new series coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One

When John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor’s (David Mitchell) identical twin, James, disappears off the face of the earth, John takes over his brother’s identity in a quest to discover his whereabouts.

John has never married, never had a family and never really ventured further than his own front door.

Without a computer, mobile phone or even a television, he lives in quiet solitude, designing puzzles for a living, under the nom-de-plume of ‘Ludwig’.

However, filling the shoes of your identical twin is one thing - when your twin also happens to be a successful DCI leading Cambridge’s busy inner-city major crimes team the stakes are much higher.

John may be a master of all things cryptic, but can he crack the biggest puzzle of his life?

Joining David Mitchell in the ‘case-of-the-week’ crime comedy-drama is Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, Line of Duty), as Lucy Betts-Taylor, John’s sister-in-law and wife of his missing brother James.

Also joining the cast are Dipo Ola (Landscapers, We Hunt Together), Gerran Howell (Catch-22, Suspicion), Izuka Hoyle (Boiling Point, Big Boys), Dylan Hughes (Malory Towers, Maternal), and Dorothy Atkinson (Mum, The Gold).

I think fundamentally it’s about the murders and the puzzle solving.

I think that’s what is so escapist and satisfying about this genre, the light meringue of a pleasing plot.

Another thing that I like about it is that it’s not gritty. It is cosy murder of the old school. So even though the crime at the centre would be an absolute abomination if it happened in real life, we all benefit from the murder-mystery convention - if you like, the Agatha Christie tradition – so we don’t dwell on what murder really is, on the horrific nature of the crime.

We focus on the context and the mystery and the play of human emotions that leads to it.

In Ludwig we don’t dwell on the fact that it’s murder any more than in a game of Cluedo you’d start thinking, ‘But how awful for Doctor Black’s family. He must be so missed.’

I’m not giving it my full attention and have it playing when I want to rest but can only zone out not sleep, so my view of it will be wrong. I meant TOWIE-esque in the sense that all the drama makes me gobsmacked “oh no he or she did not just do that, I can’t believe it” both the things they say and do! I find it all funny, the drama is ridiculous , again could be my half viewing perspective !

Good to hear there'll be a new series 👏

I know it's a bit of a diversion from Ludwig, but on the theme of dramas with comedic or slightly far fetched elements, which draw you in, and going back to Last Tango in Halifax, you asked what it's about @Blondeshavemorefun

I'd say a traditional, multi generational family saga. You might be interested to know it was created and written by Sally Wainwright, who started to cut her TV teeth on Emmerdale and Coronation Street, but who went on to write Bad Girls, Playing the Field, At Home With the Braithwaites and Unforgiven.

Then she created or co-created Scott and Bailey, Gentleman Jack and of course, Happy Valley and she further developed into directing and executive producing roles.

She's rooted in the north and her work features strong female actors such as Suranne Jones, Sarah Lancashire, Amelia Bullmore and Anne Reid, all ex Corrie; Nicola Walker and Lesly Sharp.

To me, Anna Maxwell Martin, who's from Yorkshire, also fits into that kind of calibre of leading actor roles and all the above's the train of thought that made me think if you enjoyed Ludwig, you'd also enjoy Last Tango, particularly as I know that Blonde's was hooked on Happy Valley.

Thanks @martinisforeveryone for taking the time to write that post, really interesting. Glad you mentioned the soaps, I think that’s what I meant by TOWIE-esque I meant more Eastenders style, where there’s big drama but equally about the funny day to day stuff like Kat’s latest squabble on the market or Dot chain smoking and making sarcastic remarks.

I will add Happy Valley to my list for cluster feeding background watching. I’m a bit put off because it’s police based so might be gory? But then Ludwig wasn’t. I really don’t want hard hitting drama. Just something that makes me go 😯 and 😂. Don’t want anything with “threat” or suspense - I really struggled with Traitors!

I’ve never watched anything with Sarah Lancashire before I will look for more. The first thing I watched with Nicola Walker was The Split and I loved that. “Marriage” with Nicola Walker seemed too sad and serious so haven’t watched it.

and yes I’d love to hear more Ludwig style recommendations. I’m a huge BBC Sherlock fan and love Midsomer Murders. The humour part is key, as well as lack of gore and horror.

Happy Valley is outstanding. I genuinely felt bereft when it came to an end.

Then Happy Valley might not be for you, @BakeOffRewatch . It certainly is 'hard-hitting'. But with outstanding acting performances too.

Happy Valley is definitely not for you @BakeOffRewatch It's brilliantly written and acted but has extreme and very disturbing violence.

Have you got the U tv app? Sounds like quite a lot of their drama would suit what you're looking for Stream U&Drama on U | Watch Crime, Period & Classic Shows
Things like The Chelsea Detective, Marlow Murder Club, Whitstable Pearl and perhaps Mrs Sidhu Investigates. They're all crime based obviously, but more in the Murder in Paradise genre than anything dark and gritty.

I haven't watched any of the Whitstable Pearl TV, but I loved the books, and they'd definitely qualify as 'cosy crime'.

I enjoyed Chelsea Defective and Marlow Murder Club but found Whitstable Pearly slightly irritating. It seemed to pootle along with nothing much happening and then ll be wrapped up in the last minute. Whilst this is similar to how Death in Paradise and Ludwig were it just didn't seem to work as well for me.

Was there more than one episode of Marlow Murder Club?

“Cosy crime” is such a good phrase @BIWI .

Thank you so much @martinisforeveryone ! That is all exactly up my street. I’ve downloaded the app now and favourited those programmes. It’s also got Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Last of The Summer Wine, Birds of a Feather and One Foot In The Grave - I haven’t watched those since they were live on tv though so might not enjoy now. No I had no idea about the app. I stopped watching tv when I started university and then only watched things when I met DH who watches mainly American stuff on Now TV and Netflix and blockbuster films. I might actually cancel the Netflix subscription seeing as there’s so much to watch on U and BBC iPlayer so you might have saved me money!. I do love a period drama too! Crawford looks good? Is “Why Women Kill” and “Sister Boniface mysteries” also a good shout? and thank you for warning me off Happy Valley. I’ve just got to the end of series 2 Last Tango In Halifax and there’s something that could be described as extreme there that didn’t bother me, I’m not sure where my line is I think that was ok because it wasn’t showing the actual event and immediate aftermath, but the post decade(s) consequences?

is there a kids version of U? I don’t like the new stuff on CBeebies, too attention grabbing or mischievous. I prefer chilled out programmes with a calm steady voice for toddler to watch, she’s watched the Julia Donaldson enough times. I miss Bagpuss, Mr Ben, Clangers, Wombles.

@Clawdy theres two episode of The Marlow Murder Club on U

I meant Cranford looks good, not Crawford. I’m also a chronic repeat viewer of Pride and Prejudice

I recommend Middlemarch on iPlayer. And Magpie Murders. And Cranford is marvellous.

Oh yes, Magpie Murders.

Happy Valley has family and inter generational themes, but it’s definitely not ‘cosy’ For me it’s more along the lines of The Fall with Gillian Anderson, or Kin.

@BakeOffRewatch have you got the Ch5 app too? You might find things to suit on there as well.

@BakeOffRewatch before you cancel Netflix have you watched Virgin River? Also The Lincoln Lawyer, which has some violence, but should probably be ok for you.

Happy Valley is not one to watch if you're looking for something similar to Ludwig. HV is outstanding but also very violent and upsetting.

Thanks @martinisforeveryone I may watch it one day. Have tons on the planner at the moment

Happy valley was amazing

I've just watched E6 of Ludwig.

Obviously I've had to suspend my disbelief at multiple times (mainly, how did colleagues who knew him well, not realise he was different. )

My biggest annoyance was, towards the end when he was having the discussion with the Chief Super, when she told him about the Sinclair papers disappearing and James refusing to drop the case etc , why didn't he ask her about Matt Neville? In an earlier episode, she said he had had to be transferred in the wake of the Sinclair case but he had gone into hiding, so why did she say he was transferred?

The whole series drove me mad with all the plot holes and inconsistencies. I was suspending belief to the point of disliking the characters.

I saw a yesterday that there is a second series of Magpie Murders. I can't remember what it"s called though!

Thanks @SoupDragon , just looked it's Moonflower Murders

www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/moonflower-murders-uk-air-date-newsupdate/

I've just realised after all these episodes that DI Carter was Baba in We Hunt Together!

MOONFLOWER MURDERS s2 (was magpie murders S1 ) starts 16th Nov - SAT 9.15pm - TV PACE - NO SPOILERS www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/5204406-moonflower-murders-s2-was-magpie-murders-s1-starts-16th-nov-sat-915pm-tv-pace-no-spoilers

@SoupDragon @ErrolTheDragon

I loved this

It made me so happy