Ludwig season 2 on BBC One: Peep Show with added murder and fantastic fed-up chemistry
The second season of the BBC One series 'Ludwig', starring David Mitchell, has premiered to positive reception. The show blends a 'cosy-crime' mystery format with the comedic sensibilities of the actor's previous work in 'Peep Show'.
Why it matters
It reflects the ongoing popularity of British 'cosy-crime' television dramas and the career trajectory of prominent UK comedic actors.
Britain has had its challenges recently – a stagnant economy, some hilariously catastrophic cameos at the World Cup – but there’s one area where it reigns eternal, and that’s in the field of quirky sleuths. Here, Britannia rules the airwaves , from Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes to Benedict Cumberbatch’s version, via Inspector Morse, Father Brown and Miss Marple.
A relative newcomer to the genre of ace case-cracker is David Mitchell ’s Ludwig ( BBC One, Thursday, 9pm), the lead character of which is a designer of puzzles turned accidental detective who now returns for a second series of cosy-crime, larking in suburban Cambridge.
Mitchell first came to attention in the cringe-comedy masterpiece Peep Show. In many ways, Ludwig is Peep Show with added murder. Mitchell is once again sublimely awkward as John “Ludwig” Taylor, a nerdish genius with dreadful people skills and a talent for unpicking arcane crimes.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in