Well this is not a totally open contest, there are only detectives from UK TV programmes to vote for as it's the ITV3 People's Detective Award.
I found it hard to choose as I like nearly all of them. I seem to watch more crime programmes than anything else at the moment. There's been a great season of programmes looking at the characteristics of the detectives and followed by an episode which I've thoroughly enjoyed. Yes, they're all repeats but better than most of the new programmes we're presented with at the moment.
As I said it was a hard choice as there are these great characters to select from:
Tom Barnaby - Midsommer Murders
Christopher Foyle - Foyle's War
Jack Frost - A Touch of Frost
Sherlock Holmes - Sherlock
Robbie Lewis - Lewis
Jane Marple - Marple
Endeavour Morse - Inspector Morse
Hercule Poirot - Poirot
John Rebus - Rebus
Jane Tennison - Prime Suspect
Reg Wexford - Wexford
Charles Wycliffe - Wycliffe
To be honest I think Inspector Morse is probably the best TV detective programme ever made, but he's not my favourite detective and although I do really like it, it's not my favourite programme. I whittled my choices down to Lewis and Foyle but eventually I chose Christopher Foyle. I love the setting during World War 2 giving you an insight into the daily life of people during the war. Well the life of some people, it was set in Hastings, Sussex so it would have been very different to life in London or other big cities which were heavily bombed. Most of all I love the quiet, intelligent and totally honest character of Christopher Foyle, played so brilliantly by Michael Kitchen. The supporting cast is great too, Honeysuckle Weeks as Sam and Anthony Howell as Sergeant Milner.
What is interesting is how popular the series was and yet ITV cancelled it. Well TV people aren't always the best at making these decisions are they. Look at the loonies in the US who cancelled Harry O for Charlie's Angels but that's another story. Even though it had a good audience which had never dropped, (the final programme was watched by 7.3 million viewers) ITV cancelled it. Partly for economic reasons and partly an attempt to attract the "yoof" audience. However the fans reacted and wrote to the press to complain and it was reinstated. You can read about it here in the Daily Telegraph's interview with the writer of Foyle's War, Anthony Horowitz.
Foyles War - Daily Telegraph
Post 167
My favourite would definitely be Jane Tennison. :) I also liked Jack Frost.
ReplyDeleteIf this was American it would be Columbo! :D
I have tio choose between Hercule Peroit and Sherlock Holmes? Please say is isn't so!
ReplyDeleteMagnum P.I., Columbo, Harry O., James Rockford ... too many to choose!
I have not watched a detective story in years but I do love Poirot.
ReplyDeleteI have to vote for Foyle's War:) By the way, I am enjoying New Tricks a lot. Good mystery and comedy.
ReplyDeleteFor sure, my favorite is 'Foyle's War'. I too like the WW2 setting. And...I like that Anthony Howell? also played in Wives & Daughters. I like his voice. I like Sam too. I get these out of the library and have really enjoyed them. You know, when you stop watching something and still think about it occasionally you know they did a really good job with it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Law and Order. I watch the reruns when I have time. I have been meaning to sign up for the shows that you have recommended thru Netflix. That is on my to do list:-)
ReplyDeleteSupposing that the estimable Poirot and the immortal Holmes were given Emeritus status, to level the field, I would have to vote for Miss Jane, in the UK.
ReplyDeleteAnd why hasn't SOMEONE in the BBC had the sense and gumption to grab up Ciaran Hinds for a new Holmes series? He's perfect, and I think it every time I see him---even as Captain Wentworth, that tricorne looked vaguely like a deerstalker.
Of course, in the USA, the most memorable and remembered-with-love detective of TV is Lennie Briscoe, portrayed by the incomparable Jerry Orbach.
I would be a poor contestant for your show as I don't watch that much television. I do watch things like the Discovery or History channels.
ReplyDeleteMy mum is a great fan of crime show, but I wouldn't know. Thanks for visiting my garden.
ReplyDeleteI Still to this day love Ms Marple....
ReplyDelete