Mrs Sidhu Investigates

Enjoyable ... but very formulaic... how many murders can she cater? I'd like to see this be renewed ... but they've got to figure out a way to change her character's catering situation. Maybe if she gets some sort of catering job with the police ... I don't know. Maybe she opens up a restaurant near the police station. The acting is fine. The leading lady is charming. The chemistry between the cast members is very good. I'm just afraid their going to run out of plots. Maybe she'll marry the lead detective and "help" him with his cases. Pie In the Sky worked because the lead was a retired detective who opened up a restaurant and still worked part time. I think they cooked themselves into a corner with this one. Here's hoping they figure it out.

I was drawn to the programme because I've always been a fan of the lead actress and actor, they do work really well together so I was not disappointed. It's a nice, funny programme with a good sense of humour and I really hope they decide to bring out a season 2, I hate it when they get you hooked and then cancel it! Of course It's all been done before but they made it feel fresh with enough twists to keep you guessing... Meera Syal is her usual, wonderful self, she gives off a lovely, warm vibe which contrasts well with Craig Parkinson's gruff persona which he does so well. Fingers crossed for season 2 :-)

Recent decade or so has brought forth plenty of crime series where characters, their family, relationships and hobbies prevail over the intense crime solving activities. Thus, the amount of funny moments is bigger and "ordinary" viewers can more relate to the events than just having an "outside" watch... Mrs. Sidhu Investigates is definitely one of such series, being not lame thanks to a certain quality standard BBC maintains. As Slough is ethnically a very diverse area, with lots of inhabitants of Asian origin, it is not another (often odd) attempt to follow politically correct approach.

True, I have my doubts how the events and scenes correspond to reality when fighting major crimes in the modern world and if people with something to hide really open up to a caterer, but the narration is smooth, the main performers are distinct and pleasant (Meera Syal and Craig Parkinson in particular), and the inclusion of other actors known from similar series in smaller roles provide additional value.

The final scenes of Episode 4 alluded that other episodes might follow.

I love the female lead. She is an amazing actress and brings an entertaining, intellectual and enlightening point of view to the detective genre. I also like the dynamic between she and her son. He's a terrific actor and he plays a realistic character of a young man of that age. A delightful dynamic between the two. I also like that the stories are not predictable. Neither my husband or myself were able to pick out the killer. I like detective Mint too. She brings an emphatic tone to the police. I hope to feel more for the detective inspector.....I sense the writers want us to slowly warm up to him. The show is extremely well written and I am looking forward to more episodes.

Mr Sidhu is a wonderful chef, and a good businesswoman, but her talents run deeper, solving murders to be precise. She teams up with the reluctant DCI Burton, and helps him solve various crimes.

A truly wonderful, refreshing and intriguing set of mysteries, if you haven't already check out the various radio plays that were done some years ago, well worth a listen.

Cosy, evening telly, nothing heavy, no bad language, no gore, just good old fashioned murder. Each episode features a level of humour, the squabbling between Mrs Sidhu and Burton is joyful.

Aside from her relationship with Burton, I am loving how she interacts with her son, Tez, he's a good lad at heart, but a bit lazy, a bit of a waster.

I enjoyed each of the four mysteries, my only hope is that a second series is commissioned, as yet there's no news.

I would never have pictures Meera Syal and Craig Parkinson as a crime solving duo, but they work together incredibly well, they bounce off one another so well, how nice to see Parkinson in a lighter drama, he's brilliant.

Meera Syal, such a wonderful, talented actress, nice to see her leading her own show, she's been around for so long, but time has been so kind to her, she's wonderful.

More please.

9/10.