What the Butler Saw

Episode aired Jan 27, 1993
25m

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

YOUR RATING

Jasper Carrott and Robert Powell in The Detectives (1993)

Comedy Crime

The Earl of Lisson is knifed to death in the bathroom at his country hotel, Cottam wants information about the movements of the other guests, and Susan Hampshire diverts attention away from ... Read allThe Earl of Lisson is knifed to death in the bathroom at his country hotel, Cottam wants information about the movements of the other guests, and Susan Hampshire diverts attention away from important evidence.The Earl of Lisson is knifed to death in the bathroom at his country hotel, Cottam wants information about the movements of the other guests, and Susan Hampshire diverts attention away from important evidence.

Director
- Ed Bye
Writers
- Steven Knight
- Mike Whitehill
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

YOUR RATING

Director
- Ed Bye
Writers
- Steven Knight
- Mike Whitehill
Stars

2User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos1

User reviews2

7.847

Featured reviews

8Sleepin_Dragon

An impressive start.

The Earl of Lisson is knifed to death in the bathroom at his country home, a home he was forced to turn into a hotel. On the case are Detectives Bon Louis and Dave Briggs.

What a funny start, quite a bleak opening, but as soon as The Detective duo arrive, you're left in no uncertain terms as to the brand of humour, this first one is very funny. Definitely inspired by Agatha Christie, it's like a comedy Poirot.

Loved that scene where they interrogate The Chef, it's such brash humour, but it holds up so well, still so funny. I love that the music is so serious, so at odds with the gags.

Noel Coleman is hilarious as the doddering butler, I've only just watched Dr Who, The War Games, hard to think he played General Smythe all those years back.

One of Jerry Hall's better performances, she's quite fun here.

8/10.

Trivia
A parody of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" from the point of view of Bob and Dave.

Goofs
When we see the establishing shots of the Earl's house (Dorney Court) the set has been dressed with a brick wall at the farthest corner of the house from the camera. However, when Bob and Dave take the body bag from the freezer to Bob's car, it's clearly shown that the end of the house has windows similar to the rest of the house with a pile of logs sat in front of it.

Quotes
Superintendent Cottam: So you finally found the place then?
Bob Louis: We had a bit of trouble, sir, it's Dave, he's not used to driving in the country.
Dave Briggs: Oh yeah. When you said "second on the left after the post office" Mr Navigator here thought that included tiny little dirt tracks with great big signs saying "pick your own strawberries."
Bob Louis: One wrong turn.
Dave Briggs: Two.
Bob Louis: It was your idea to drive across the potatoes.
Dave Briggs: That was a shortcut.
Bob Louis: Dave, you were ploughing up crops, we were being followed by seagulls.
Dave Briggs: Next time we get called out to back of beyond, you can drive.
Bob Louis: Right, we might get out of second gear then.