Recommendations please, similar to Death in Paradise/Ludwig/Mcdonalds and Dodds.

[Spirallingallthetime]

Hi! I need to discover some new shows.
My absolute comfort TV show is one in which a mystery/crime is solved is a fun way/by funny characters.
So nothing too sombre or serious like Shetland or Sherlock.
The key though, is that the writing has to be high quality. I find that a lot of these sort of programmes aren't great with the plotlines/writing and can veer into cheesiness/silliness pretty quickly.

If you have any recommendations for this type of shows, please let me know. Thanks.

Slightly older now but Monk is also one I'd add to the list!
And the itv agatha Christie series so Marple, Poirot. The bbc adaptations are always much more serious.

Mentioning Monk reminds me of the Cadfael series, from the 1990s. They may suit you also.

I’d also recommend Code 404 - a very daft sci-fi/cop series starring Daniel Mays and Stephen Graham, along with Anna Maxwell Martin, Rosie Cavaliero and Tracy-Ann Oberman.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code404

3 series were made altogether.

If you have Sky/Now TV Matlock is enjoyable. It features Kathy Bates as a retired lawyer who goes to work undercover in a big city law firm. A bit of the Miss Marples as she pretends to be a sweet old lady but is really very sharp! We are halfway through season 1 in the UK and I hope it gets renewed.

OOh - that sounds interesting, @TeaAndStrumpets - many thanks!

Yes it is great fun!

This thread has gone straight into my bookmarks list. I'm already on season 2 of Shakespeare and Hathaway 😳
Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Oooh I've just remembered Private Eyes as well on Channel 5 on demand or whatever its called. Very cheesy private detective series.

I also like light-hearted murder mysteries.

Agree with these earlier recommendations:

Brokenwood Mysteries: (New Zealand's answer to Midsomer Murders).

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries: Australian sassy female lead

Jonathan Creek: you're probably familiar with this?

I haven't seen anyone mention:

Murdoch Mysteries: Canadian, period, quirky

The Mentalist: American, if you've not seen it before, you're in for a treat.

I've been enjoying The Mentalist, Elementary is very entertaining but some episodes can be a bit gruesome.