Black Canary

A classic. Jonathan and Maddy investigate the impossible case of a magician whose suicide is witnessed by a man who leaves no tracks in the snow - and how could she shoot herself when she was already dead? A superb performance by Rik Mayall as the detective who is as clever as Jonathan. Some good fun with Jonathan and Maddy trying to guess the sex of the detective's sidekick. As usual, Maddy is jealous of Jonathan's burgeoning relationship with an old flame, and there are great comic scenes regarding her cockroach infestation.

Alan Davies is "Jonathan Creek" in this 1998 special also starring Caroline Quentin as Maddy and Stuart Milligan as magician Adam Klaus.

Jonathan is contacted by an old almost-girlfriend, Charlotte (Kate Isitt) when her mother, Marella Carney, the famous Black Canary, commits suicide. The Black Canary was an illusionist whose illusions were based on the fact that she had a twin sister, who died in an unfortunate accident. The twin sister had a daughter, Hannah, who had taken off some years ago.

However, although Marella's husband saw his wife commit suicide, it's learned that she had been dead for about four hours before he witnessed this. It's a tough puzzle for Jonathan to work out.

As with all the "Jonathan Creek" stories, this has an intricate, clever plot with the denouement based on Jonathan's knowledge of magic and illusion. And, as with all the "Jonathan Creek" stories, there is a great deal of humor. The show really lost something when Carolyn Quentin left, and she's wonderful here working with Jonathan. Probably the last scene in the show is the funniest.

I'm so glad these are available on disc, and I hope they make the specials being done now available to American audiences as well. This is a great show that ended too soon.

Every good series has a goto episode, the one, if you had any friends, that you would recommend. This is that episode.

The first 4 series of Jonathan Creek are exceptional. Brilliantly conceived, brilliantly acted, funny and thoughtful. So the best of that bunch would have to be the cream and it is. Released as a Christmas special in 1998 it sits between series 2 and series 3.

It should also be said if you were looking for the best piece of work Rik Mayall ever did then this is right up there with anything he did with Ade Edmondson, who Ironically turns up as a side character in a couple of series time.

So why is it good? Where do I start, the plot is superb, the Police / amateur detective interplay is just brilliant.

For once we get a cop who is almost, almost as sharp as Jonathan. There is that Indiana Jones feeling with Inspector Gideon Pryke, he would have got there with or without Jonathan.

The Creek specials like this one are mostly excellent. Satan's chimney is almost perfect too.

The problem with brilliant series that end too soon is that there is always a clamouring for more. The problem here is they relented and series 5 and those specials (2013 onwards) are mostly a very poor imitation, they are not rubbish, anyone who says they are is being silly, it's just that they are nowhere near the quality of writing that got us to the end of series 4 a decade earlier.

I would always start with series 01 episode 01 and go through to the end of series 4 and make your mind up whether you wish to continue. But as a one-off The Black Canary is peerless.