Jonathan Creek: Series IV (2003 - 2004)

The first three series of JC can be seen as one collective era because they share the same two principal actors, Alan Davies and Caroline Quentin. Caroline chose not to return after Series 3, which left a gap needing filled because Jonathan's character needs an ancillary to bounce ideas off and to get (unintentional) inspiration from. That gap was filled by Carla Borrego (Julia Sawalha).

Carla made the show even better. She's a wonderfully rounded character who brought a similar kind of resourcefulness and determination as Maddie, but with a whole new self-important attitude supporting it. She's vulnerable beneath the hard outer shell, but she goes to great lengths to hide it from the world.

She got her introduction in the 2001 Christmas Special. It's not necessary to have seen it, but it's advisable because it shows the genesis of their relationship and helps explain the boundaries that exist from the offset in Series IV.

They look stern and miserable on the cover. That's really not representative of the pair at all; it's the least flattering image they could've chosen.

Bringing a new woman into Jonathan's life offered an opportunity for new kinds of problems, and she didn't disappoint in that department, either. Maddie used his profile to help sell her books, but Carla uses it to further her TV career, making him a lot more famous in the process, which is something that he'd rather avoid.

She wasn't the only new addition. We'd already had Nigel Planer (Series 1) and Rik Mayall (1998 Xmas Special) as guests, so it made sense to have Ade Edmondson. He gets a quality supporting role and stays for the duration.

6 episodes, approx 60 minutes each.

5 whetted appetites out of 5