The Jonathan Creek Podcast

Daemon’s Roost was the final episode of Jonathan Creek’s run (so far). A mysterious Gothic mansion conceals a number of disturbing secrets. In this podcast Gerry and Iain wonder how you would casually burn some guy to death with no repercussions.     Mysteries of the distant and recent past, along with present concerns, occupy Jonathan’s attention in the most recent Jonathan Creek special. With assistance from the Rev. Wendell Wilkie (Warwick Davis), Jonathan probes the case of a young woman named Alison Belkin (Georgie Lord) whose mother and sisters died without explanation in a home famed for the unsolved deaths of many men a century earlier. She is newly married to Stephen Belkin (Emun Elliott), who previously made Jonathan’s acquaintance when accused of murdering his first wife, Imelda (Nicole Cooper).   Also on the scene are Mr Ryman (Jason Barnett), a security camera installer; Phillipa Teller (Rosalind March), carer for the proprietor; and the proprietor himself, filmmaker Nathan Clore (Ken Bones). Meanwhile Jonathan is being pursued by Patrick Tyree (Ryan Oliva) – a man he put in jail – with Polly and her friend Nina (Jo Martin) preoccupied by a local scarecrow competition. DS Alben Barkley (Chris Forbes) offers advice at a critical stage.   Daemon’s Roost was written by David Renwick and directed by the returning Sandy Johnson. Rosemary McGowan continued as producer.   Daemon’s Roost was released in 2016. It is 89 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes, released by the BBC.The post Daemon’s Roost – Episode 34 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Sinner and the Sandman was the second episode of Jonathan Creek’s fifth season. A seemingly impossible prediction from a much-maligned magician has the whole village stumped. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider scavenging for lottery tickets.     In a multi-threaded episode, Jonathan must ascertain how former magician Eric Ipswich (David Gant) has produced a prediction of seemingly random lottery-winning numbers decades before the event, won by local businessman Sir Leonard Corbyn (Michael Troughton). A family quirk leads him to Salvation Army Captain Ian Amery-Cooper (John Voce) and an apparent solution.   Elsewhere, Rev. Hugh Chater (James Bachman) and his wife Alison (Selina Griffiths) are concerned at the dissemination of local secrets in the parish newsletter produced by Horace Greeley (John Bird) and a recurring nightmare triggers a painful memory for Polly.   The Sinner and the Sandman was written by David Renwick and directed by David Sant. Rosemary McGowan continued as producer.   The Sinner and the Sandman was released in 2014. It is 58 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.The post The Sinner and the Sandman – Episode 32 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Clue of the Savant’s Thumb was the last of three Jonathan Creek specials between the fourth and fifth seasons. Life has changed for Jonathan, but can Joey persuade him to solve one more mystery when a friend dies in bizarre circumstances. In this podcast Gerry and Iain contemplate giving up podcasting to wear suits and work in an office on tasks completely divorced from our known skills.     Rosalind Tartikoff (Joanna Lumley) has more than one death to concern herself with as she comes to terms with both a childhood trauma and the inexplicable disappearance of her husband Franklin’s dead body (Nigel Planer) from a locked room.   The Tartikoff’s adopted daughter Fariba (Hasina Haque) and her partner Brad (Mark Frost) play their part in prolonging the mystery, while family GP Peter Churchill (Michael Lumsden) has much to regret. This episode is perhaps best remembered as the one in which Jonathan’s new wife Polly (Sarah Alexander) is introduced.   The Clue of the Savant’s Thumb was written by David Renwick and he made his third and (so far) final visit to the director’s chair, along with a brief cameo as a TV interviewer. Rosemary McGowan continued as producer.   The Clue of the Savant’s Thumb was released in 2013. It is 90 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is missing from the collection on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, however the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.The post The Clue of the Savant’s Thumb – Episode 30 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Grinning Man was the first of three Jonathan Creek specials between the fourth and fifth seasons. In the second half of the episode a woman is murdered before Joey’s eyes and a dead bird gives Jonathan a vital clue. In this podcast Gerry and Iain conclude their look at a classic episode.     In the second half of this episode Jenna Harrison’s Elodie meets a gruesome end at the hands of Lance Gessler (Nicholas Boulton); Delia Gunning (Julia Ford) doesn’t get the happy ending she anticipated; and Candy Mountains (Jemma Walker) has a surprise in store for Adam.   The Grinning Man was written by David Renwick and he also made his debut as director. Following the death of Verity Lambert, this special was produced by Nerys Evans.   The Grinning Man was released in 2009. It is 120 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.The post The Grinning Man (2) – Episode 28 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

Gorgons Wood was the final episode of Jonathan Creek‘s fourth season. After a mystical ancient statuette goes missing Jonathan and Carla must navigate a toxic case of sibling rivalry. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider the naming conventions for wooded areas in the United Kingdom.     Brother and sister Owen Glendower (Michael Cochrane) and Thelma Bailer (Celia Imrie) feud over a missing piece of porcelain which leads Thelma’s daughter Gillian (Alice Patten) down a dark, ultimately fatal, path. There were cameos for Brenda Cowling as a litigant claiming Adam Klaus hypnotised her through the television and for Bamber Gascoigne, ostensibly as himself. This was the final appearance of Julia Sawalha in the role of Carla Borrego.   Gorgons Wood was written by David Renwick and Sandy Johnson returned as director. Verity Lambert produced her final episode of the show, sadly passing away at the age of 71 before Creek returned from its hiatus.   Gorgons Wood was released in 2004. It is 60 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.The post Gorgons Wood – Episode 26 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Seer of the Sands was the fourth episode of Jonathan Creek‘s fourth season. After the death of her partner, an American executive struggles to interpret his messages from beyond the grave. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at the sound thinking behind sending a fake psychic to help win you major business contracts.     Executive Geraldine Vaccara (Lorelei King) mourns the loss of her skeptic partner Justin Mallory (Gary Cady) in a boating accident while a fraudulent ‘psychic’ (Eve Polycarpou) tries to convince her that messages are being sent from the afterlife. Meanwhile, creepy Ashley (Catherine Cusack) has a dark secret and Phylicia (Nicola Hughes) tries to influence Adam’s workplace practices.   The Seer of the Sands was written by David Renwick and Creek veteran Sandy Johnson returned to the director’s chair. Verity Lambert remained as producer.   The Seer of the Sands was released in 2004. It is 60 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.The post The Seer of the Sands – Episode 24 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

Angel Hair was the second episode of Jonathan Creek‘s fourth season. A famous composer and his pop star wife are shocked by a woman’s ability to re-grow her hair in just 48 hours. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at the challenges of combining hostage-taking with time travel and what to do with a 12-foot tall ventriloquist’s dummy.     The principal guests in this episode were Jack Dee as love rat Dudley Houseman and Sophie Thompson as his PA, Dorothy. They were supported by Caroline Carver as Dudley’s wife Sally Ellen Oakley, Trevor Peacock as Dudley’s father and dummy-maker Henry Houseman and Tamsin Greig as Pam, a make-up artist and stylist who Jonathan spends some time with during the show. David Renwick makes a cameo appearance during the kidnapping scene.   Angel Hair was written by Renwick and Christine Gernon once more directed, while Verity Lambert remained as producer.   Angel Hair was released in 2003. It is 60 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is available in an edited format on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.The post Angel Hair – Episode 22 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

Satan’s Chimney was the 2001 Christmas Special episode of Jonathan Creek. The special featured a curious vindictive religious zealot and a tragically complicated mother-son relationship. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at the second half of the episode and a mystery unravelled.     Jonathan and Carla (Julia Sawalha) face up to the death of Alan Kalanak (Jay Benedict) on top of that of Vivian Brodie (Mary Tamm). Meanwhile Tom (Elliot Cowan) comes to terms with his role in Viv’s death and his place in the world.   Director Herman Grole (Steven Berkoff), actors Jodee Tressky (Lisa Stökke) and Bronson Peterman (Matt Rippy) and Raymond (Raymond Griffiths) keep their secrets, while Bill Bailey and James Saxon remain involved as Kenny Starkiss and Inspector Bullstrode respectively.   Satan’s Chimney was again written by the show’s creator, David Renwick. Sandy Johnson made a pleasing return as director while Verity Lambert remained as producer.   Satan’s Chimney was released in 2001. It is 120 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode is strangely missing from Netflix in the UK and Ireland, but the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.The post Satan’s Chimney (2) – Episode 20 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Three Gamblers was the final episode of Jonathan Creek’s third season. This episode featured a corpse attempting to escape from a locked room. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at one last adventure for a favourite character.     When nefarious villain Frank Geiger (John Bennett) invites Floyd Goodman (Harry Peacock) and Joe Wheeler (Cliff Barry) for a meeting ahead of a major drugs deal, the last thing he expects is for undercover police officer Karen Blaine (Nina Sosanya) to tag along. Meanwhile, her boss DI Gallo (John Bird) is looking for results.   Hattie Hayridge (Lizzie Gillespie), Cavan Clerkin (Sidney Australia), Lee Ingleby (Derek Spratley) and Jonathan Ross (himself, a cameo) also appeared.   The Three Gamblers was again written by the show’s creator, David Renwick. Richard Holthouse directed the last of his three episodes while Verity Lambert remained as producer.   The Three Gamblers was released in 2000. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.The post The Three Gamblers – Episode 18 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

Ghosts Forge was the fourth episode of Jonathan Creek’s third season. This episode featured a novelist, a shrine and a bad case of amnesia. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at the ethics of tricking a person with no memory into living a life you’ve created for them.     When Jonathan and Maddy’s mutual acquaintance Mimi Tranter (Lysette Anthony) shares the tale of her married lover Robin Priest (Mark Aiken) and the mysterious tale of Ghosts Forge it isn’t long before the pair begin to investigate. Robin’s wife Shirley (Sara Stephens) and Shirley’s Uncle Bill (Nicholas Amer) form critical parts of a very unusual story.   Gina Bellman and Jim Bowen also appeared as part of the Adam Klaus B-plot.   Ghosts Forge was again written by the show’s creator, David Renwick. Richard Holthouse directed the first of his three episodes while Verity Lambert remained as producer.   Ghosts Forge was released in 1999. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.The post Ghosts Forge – Episode 16 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

The Eyes of Tiresias was the second episode of Jonathan Creek’s third season. The episode featured premonitions, goldfish and bizarre case of mistaken identity. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at the power of dreams and late twentieth century recording devices.     The victim (and, as it turns out, the perpetrator), Andre Masson, was played by Terrence Hardiman and his wife, Delia, by another familiar face to British TV viewers, Diana Weston. James Gaddas played Craig Downey, who Masson tried to frame for his apparent murder. Elsewhere, Jonathan became acquainted with Heidi (Rebecca Front) and her aunt Audrey (Margery Mason) who kept seeing murders in her sleep. Paul Blackthorne and Damien Goodwin appeared as two men Maddy managed to mix up for one on a night out near the start of the episode.   There were small roles for Terry Bird as a security guard determined to keep Maddy away from Downey, Peter Blake as Otto Danziger and Claire Malcomson as Becky Philips, the second fatality foreseen by Audrey.   The Eyes of Tiresias was again written by the show’s creator, David Renwick. Keith Washington directed once more while Verity Lambert remained as producer.   The Eyes of Tiresias was released in 1999. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.The post The Eyes of Tiresias – Episode 14 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.

Black Canary was the Christmas Special of Jonathan Creek in 1998, between the show’s second and third seasons. The episode featured a seemingly impossible twice-executed suicide. In this podcast Gerry and Iain take a look at family dramas and the extinguishing of an old flame.     Hannah Gordon took centre stage as both Marella Carney and her twin Beryl, one the victim of a gruesome buzzsaw stunt gone wrong, the other dead at her own hand prior to manservant Lionel Prekopp’s (Murray Melvin) inventive intervention.   Marella and Beryl each had one daughter, Charlotte (Kate Isitt) and Hannah (Suzanna Hamilton), whose reactions to the latest death are made all the more complex when it is revealed one twin had been living the other’s life for many years. Francis Matthews appeared as Marella’s husband Jerry Bellinitus, while Vincent Wong (as Hannah’s fellow con-artist Pan Duc Lao), Dave Haskell (as Sgt. Richie of apparently undefined gender) and Sanjeev Bhaskar (as a typically hilarious doctor, tormenting Adam Klaus) also appeared.   The most significant guest star, however, was the late, great Rik Mayall as D.I. Gideon Pryke. Pryke presented as a formidable foil to Jonathan throughout the episode and is doubtless one of the most memorable characters in Creek‘s history.   Black Canary was again written by the show’s creator, David Renwick. Sandy Johnson returned behind the camera, while Verity Lambert remained as producer.   Black Canary was released in 1998. It is 89 minutes long and originally aired on the BBC. The episode can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and the entire series is available on DVD in the UK and other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all the episodes up until Christmas 2016, released by the BBC.  The post Black Canary – Episode 12 first appeared on Jonathan Creek Podcast.