View source for Jonathan Creek

{{short description|British television mystery crime drama series (1997–2016)}}
{{other uses}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox television
| image              = Jcreek title.jpg
| caption            = Opening title
| alt_name           =
| genre              = [[Mystery fiction|Mystery]] [[Drama]]
| creator            =
| writer             = [[David Renwick]]
| director           = [[Sandy Johnson (director)|Sandy Johnson]]<br>Keith Washington<br>Marcus Mortimer<br>Richard Holthouse<br>Christine Gernon<br>David Renwick<br>[[David Sant]]
| starring           = [[Alan Davies]]<br>[[Caroline Quentin]] <small>(1997–2000)</small><br>[[Julia Sawalha]] <small>(2001–2004)</small><br>[[Sheridan Smith]] <small>(2009–2013)</small><br>[[Sarah Alexander]] <small>(2013–2016)</small>
| narrated           =
| opentheme          = "[[Danse macabre (Saint-Saëns)|Danse macabre]]" by [[Camille Saint-Saëns]] (arr by [[Julian Stewart Lindsay]])
| composer           =
| country            = United Kingdom
| language           = English
| num_series         = 5
| num_episodes       = 32
| list_episodes      = List of Jonathan Creek episodes
| executive_producer =
| producer           =
| editor             =
| location           =
| cinematography     =
| camera             =
| runtime            = Various (49–119 mins)
| network            = [[BBC One]]
| first_aired        = {{start date|1997|5|10|df=y}}
| last_aired         = {{end date|2016|12|28|df=y}}
}}

'''''Jonathan Creek''''' is a British [[mystery fiction|mystery]] [[crime drama]] series produced by the [[BBC]] and written by [[David Renwick]]. It stars [[Alan Davies]] as the title character, who works as a creative consultant to a stage magician while also solving seemingly supernatural mysteries through his talent for logical deduction and his understanding of [[Magic (illusion)|illusions]].

==Production==
The series ran semi-regularly from 1997 to 2004, broadcasting for four series and two Christmas specials, initially co-starring [[Caroline Quentin]] as Creek's collaborator, writer Maddy Magellan. After Quentin's departure in 2001, [[Julia Sawalha]] joined the cast as new character Carla Borrego, a theatrical agent turned television presenter. Following a five-year hiatus, the series returned for a one-off special on 1 January 2009, "[[The Grinning Man (Jonathan Creek)|The Grinning Man]]", which featured [[Sheridan Smith]] as another paranormal investigator with whom Creek joins forces. A further 90-minute special, "[[The Judas Tree (Jonathan Creek)|The Judas Tree]]", was filmed in October 2009 and broadcast on 4 April 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s0b6g |title=Jonathan Creek, The Judas Tree  |work=BBC One |year=2014 |access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref> A third special, "The Clue of the Savant's Thumb", was shown at Easter 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-12-05/jonathan-creek-to-return-for-new-episode |title=Jonathan Creek to return for new episode  |first=David |last=Brown |work=Radio Times |date=5 December 2012 |access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref> Smith had previously worked with [[David Renwick]] on his sitcom ''[[Love Soup]]''.

Sheridan Smith reprised her role as Joey in both specials. Series 5 comprised three episodes and featured [[Sarah Alexander]] as Jonathan's wife Polly. These episodes were shown at 9{{nbsp}}pm on Friday 28 February, 7 and 14 March 2014 respectively.

In 2014, conflicting reports surfaced regarding [[Alan Davies]]'s view of the show. In one article published online he was said to be "happy to do Jonathan Creek for another ten years" and praised Renwick's talent as a writer.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a554590/alan-davies-i-want-to-play-jonathan-creek-for-another-10-years.html |title=Alan Davies: I want to play Jonathan Creek for another 10 years  |first=Morgan |last=Jeffery |work=Digital Spy |date=28 February 2014 |access-date=18 October 2014}}</ref>

On 4 March 2016, it was reported that the series would be returning for another 90-minute one-off special, with filming to begin in summer 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/news/a785761/jonathan-creek-is-returning-to-bbc-one-for-a-new-special/|title=Jonathan Creek is returning to BBC One for a new special |first=Catriona |last=Wightman |work=Digital Spy |date=4 March 2016 |access-date=3 August 2016}}</ref> The episode, "Daemons' Roost", aired on 28 December 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-11-29/what-time-is-the-jonathan-creek-christmas-special-on-tv|title=What time is the Jonathan Creek Christmas special on TV?|last=Dowell|first=Ben|date=29 November 2016|work=Radio Times}}</ref> Alexander returned as Jonathan Creek's wife Polly, alongside guest stars [[Warwick Davis]], [[Emun Elliott]] and [[Rosalind March]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/08/02/jonathan-creek-returns-to-bbc-one/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/08/02/jonathan-creek-returns-to-bbc-one/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Jonathan Creek returns to BBC One|date=2 August 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The cult success of the series won it the [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA]] for [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000123/1998 |title=BAFTA Awards (1998) |work=imdb.com |year=2014 |access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref> It was notable for featuring comic characters and sub-plots that lent a lot of humour to the series. Unusually, it was produced by the BBC's in-house Entertainment department rather than the Drama department – this was because Renwick preferred working with people he knew rather than the people at Drama who might not share his vision.<ref name=WorldOfJonathanCreek>{{cite book|first=Steve |last=Clark |title=The World of Jonathan Creek Paperback |date=21 October 1999 |publisher=BBC Books |location=London |isbn=978-0563551355 }}</ref> It has included guest-stars such as [[Bob Monkhouse]], [[Griff Rhys Jones]], [[Rik Mayall]], [[Jack Dee]], [[Bill Bailey]], [[John Bird (actor)|John Bird]], [[Nigel Planer]] and [[Ade Edmondson]], who are mainly associated with comedy, but who gave straight performances.

The first two series were broadcast in the U.S. on a number of [[PBS]] stations, while the remainder aired on [[BBC America]].

==Concept and casting==
Renwick wanted to write a detective series that dealt with the actual work of detection rather than action, which most crime dramas appeared to focus on at the time.<ref name="WorldOfJonathanCreek"/> Also, whereas most of these were about ''who did it'' (''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' or ''[[Taggart (series)|Taggart]]'') and ''why it was done'' (''[[Cracker (UK TV series)|Cracker]]''), this new series would be about ''how it was done'', with such tropes as murders committed in [[Locked room mystery|locked rooms]], a person being in two places at once, or impossible thefts. Finding a culprit would still be part of the detective's job, but the emphasis would be on discovering how the crime was committed.

Magic would play an important part of the series, but it would be in the form of tricks and [[Sleight of hand|sleight-of-hand]] used by stage magicians to audiences. The programme often exposed how such tricks are actually done, but in a way quite banal compared to the trick itself.

The series would also focus on the relationship between Creek and his collaborator Maddy Magellan, a writer who often uses dishonest means in order to expose [[miscarriages of justice]]. The relationship would be a mainly [[Platonic love|platonic]] one, though they do at some stage consummate their relationship only to agree that it must never happen again. (In his early planning, Renwick had thought that Maddy should be Creek's stepmother and that they would investigate crime in memory of his murdered father. However, he decided that the concept of the avenging son was far too "[[Batman]]" and in the series Creek's parents are mentioned as having moved to America.)<ref name="WorldOfJonathanCreek"/>

Quentin was Renwick's first choice for Maddy Magellan, but the casting of Creek proved something of a problem. Renwick had wanted [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]], but he turned it down. [[Rik Mayall]] was also offered the part, but was, at the time, busy with stage work (he would later guest-star in a Christmas special of the series). [[Hugh Laurie]] showed a great deal of interest and agreed to take the part, but later turned it down as he could not figure out Creek's motivations for investigating the cases Maddy involves him in, especially when he shows so much reluctance in some of the episodes.<ref name="WorldOfJonathanCreek"/>

Others who were tried for the part included [[Nigel Planer]] (who would later guest star) and [[Angus Deayton]] (who had already worked with Renwick and director [[Susan Belbin]] on ''[[One Foot in the Grave]]''). Almost a dozen actors were considered before Susan Belbin saw Davies during a rehearsal for a sitcom. Davies was invited round to talk to Renwick and "turned up in his [[duffle coat]] with straggly hair and a broad grin [and] was self-evidently the closest match yet to Creek as we had always seen him".<ref name="WorldOfJonathanCreek"/>

The role of Adam Klaus was originally cast to [[Anthony Head]] in 1997 in the pilot episode ("The Wrestler's Tomb"). However, after accepting the role of [[Rupert Giles]] on ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', Head was unable to play Adam Klaus in later episodes, leaving the way clear for [[Stuart Milligan]] to take over the role.

==Cast==
{| class="wikitable planrowheaders" style="width: 100%; margin-right: 0;"
|-
!rowspan=2|Actor
!rowspan=2|Character
!rowspan=2|P
!colspan=4|Series 1
!colspan=6|Series 2
!rowspan=2|S1
!colspan=6|Series 3
!rowspan=2|S2
!colspan=6|Series 4
!rowspan=2|S3
!rowspan=2|S4
!rowspan=2|S5
!colspan=3|Series 5
!rowspan=2|S6
|-
!1
!2
!3
!4
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!1
!2
!3
|-
! colspan="34" style="background:lightgrey;"| '''Main'''
|-
|[[Alan Davies]]
|Jonathan Creek
|colspan=32 {{yes2|}}
|-
|[[Caroline Quentin]]
|Maddy Magellan
|colspan=18 {{yes2|}}
|colspan=14 {{no|}}
|-
|[[Julia Sawalha]]
|Carla Borrego
|colspan=18 {{no|}}
|colspan=7 {{yes2|}}
|colspan=7 {{no|}}
|-
|[[Sheridan Smith]]
|Joey Ross
|colspan=25 {{no|}}
|colspan=3 {{yes2|}}
|colspan=4 {{no|}}
|-
|[[Sarah Alexander]]
|Polly Creek
|colspan=27 {{no|}}
|colspan=5 {{yes2|}}
|-
! colspan="34" style="background:lightgrey;"| '''Recurring'''
|-
|[[Anthony Head]]
|rowspan=2|Adam Klaus
|{{yes2|}}
|colspan=31 {{no|}}
|-
|[[Stuart Milligan]]
|colspan=5 {{no|}}
|{{yes2|}}
|{{no|}}
|colspan=3 {{yes2|}}
|{{no|}}
|colspan=2 {{yes2|}}
|colspan=2 {{no|}}
|{{yes2|}}
|{{no|}}
|colspan=2 {{yes2|}}
|{{no|}}
|colspan=7 {{yes2|}}
|colspan=5 {{no|}}
|-
|[[Geoffrey McGivern]]
|Barry Opper
|{{yes2|}}
|{{no|}}
|{{yes2|}}
|colspan=3 {{no|}}
|colspan=2 {{yes2|}}
|colspan=24 {{no|}}
|-
|[[Adrian Edmondson]]
|Brendan Baxter
|colspan=19 {{no|}}
|colspan=5 {{yes2|}}
|colspan=8 {{no|}}
|-
|[[Rik Mayall]]
|DI Gideon Pryke
|colspan=11 {{no|}}
|{{yes2|}}
|colspan=15 {{no|}}
|{{yes2|}}
|colspan=4 {{no|}}
|-
|[[Bill Bailey]]
|Kenny Starkiss
|colspan=18 {{no|}}
|{{yes2|}}
|colspan=2 {{no|}}
|{{yes2|}}
|colspan=10 {{no|}}
|-
|[[John Bird (actor)|John Bird]]
|Horace Greeley
|colspan=29 {{no|}}
|colspan=2 {{yes2|}}
|{{no|}}
|-
!rowspan=2|Actor
!rowspan=2|Character
!rowspan=2|P
!1
!2
!3
!4
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!rowspan=2|S1
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!rowspan=2|S2
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!rowspan=2|S3
!rowspan=2|S4
!rowspan=2|S5
!1
!2
!3
!rowspan=2|S6
|-
!colspan=4|Series 1
!colspan=6|Series 2
!colspan=6|Series 3
!colspan=6|Series 4
!colspan=3|Series 5
|}
===Guest cast===
Many well-known actors have appeared in the series, including [[Bob Monkhouse]], [[Rik Mayall]] (who had been considered to play Jonathan) and [[Jack Dee]] who are better known for their comedy roles. Other guest stars, both comedy and straight, have included: [[Rob Jarvis]] who made two appearances, each time as a different character, [[Colin Baker]], [[Sheila Gish]], [[Alistair McGowan]], [[John Bluthal]], [[Lysette Anthony]], [[Simon Day]], [[Selina Cadell]], [[Peter Davison]], [[Pippa Haywood]], [[Dermot Crowley]], [[Deborah Grant]], [[Amanda Holden]], [[Nicola Walker]], [[Francis Matthews (actor)|Francis Matthews]], [[Griff Rhys Jones]], [[Maxine Peake]], [[Rebecca Front]], [[Terrence Hardiman]], [[Michael Brandon]], [[Jim Bowen]], [[Dinah Sheridan]], [[Hattie Hayridge]], [[Steven Berkoff]], [[Mary Tamm]], [[Benjamin Whitrow]], [[Bill Bailey]], [[Sophie Thompson]],  [[Maureen Lipman]], [[Celia Imrie]], [[Judy Parfitt]], [[Katherine Parkinson]], [[Paul McGann]], [[Ian McNeice]], [[Joanna Lumley]], [[Paula Wilcox]], [[Raquel Cassidy]], [[Kieran Hodgson]], [[June Whitfield]], [[Josie Lawrence]] and [[Warwick Davis]].

[[Adrian Edmondson]] appeared in the fourth series in a recurring role. [[Jonathan Ross (television presenter)|Jonathan Ross]], [[Michael Grade]] and [[Bamber Gascoigne]] have all appeared as themselves.

===Cast links to other Renwick productions===
Actors [[Annette Crosbie]], [[Peter Copley]], [[Jonathan Kydd (actor)|Jonathan Kydd]], [[Brian Murphy (actor)|Brian Murphy]], [[John Bluthal]], [[Hannah Gordon]], Nick Maloney and [[John Bird (actor)|John Bird]] made appearances, (Bird as two different characters, one of which a recurring role) and all worked with Renwick on ''One Foot in The Grave''. Additionally Bird worked with Renwick again on his [[BBC Radio 4]] miniseries ''Desolation Jests'' in late 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b085zq0d/episodes/player |title=BBC Radio 4 Extra - Desolation Jests - Available now |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2021-03-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/radio-programme/e/fgyr6j/desolation-jests-episode-guide/ |title=Desolation Jests Series and Episode Guides &#124; TV from |publisher=RadioTimes |date= |accessdate=2021-03-16 |archive-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505224212/https://www.radiotimes.com/radio-programme/e/fgyr6j/desolation-jests-episode-guide/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Born: 22 November 1936, Nottingham, Notts. |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9efd8637 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425225630/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9efd8637 |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 April 2018 |title=John Bird |publisher=BFI |date=1936-11-22 |accessdate=2021-03-16}}</ref>

[[Tamsin Greig]], [[Georgie Glen]], [[Sheridan Smith]] and Sara Markland worked with Renwick on his sitcom ''[[Love Soup]]''.

[[Adrian Edmondson]] had a leading role in Renwick's 1993 miniseries ''[[If You See God, Tell Him]]''.

[[Doreen Mantle]] has appeared in eighteen episodes of ''One Foot in the Grave'', one episode of ''Love Soup'', as well as one episode of ''Jonathan Creek''.

Renwick himself made appearances in two episodes, something which he also did in two{{specify|date=November 2024}} of his other notable productions.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

==Character development==
The series follows the exploits of Jonathan Creek and (in the first three series) Maddy Magellan, a pushy [[investigative journalist]], as they work together to solve crimes where others have failed.

[[File:'Creek' King's Mill windmill at Shipley, West Sussex, England 01.JPG|thumb|[[King's Mill, Shipley|King's Mill]], [[Shipley, West Sussex]], used as Creek's initial windmill home in the series]]
Creek is a somewhat cynical designer of illusions for [[magic (illusion)|stage magician]] Adam Klaus. He originally lived in a [[windmill]] in [[West Sussex]].{{efn|The actual windmill used is in [[King's Mill, Shipley|Shipley, West Sussex]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shipleywindmill.org.uk/famous.htm |title=Shipley Windmill |publisher=www.shipleywindmill.org.uk |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404103309/http://www.shipleywindmill.org.uk/famous.htm |archive-date=4 April 2019}}</ref>}} His ingenuity and [[lateral thinking]] usually, if not immediately, lead to an unveiling of the intricacies of the crime.

Magellan is a plausible liar who never seems to have trouble sneaking into closed crime scenes (though she is frequently unceremoniously ejected), and Klaus is a flamboyant performer with a sinister stage persona who is really a dull-witted, insensitive womaniser. In some instances, his magic tricks go comically wrong.

The programme usually features 'impossible crimes'; examples include an offence having been committed in a sealed environment from which no criminal could have escaped (a "[[locked room mystery]]"), paranormal thefts and murders. Creek solves these cases using his knowledge of misdirection and illusion. No matter how fantastic the crime appears to be at first, he always finds a rational explanation, giving the character a passing resemblance to stage magician turned paranormal investigator [[James Randi]]. Some aspects of the character were inspired by [[Ali Bongo (magician)|Ali Bongo]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://twitter.com/alandavies1/status/1306843816 |title=Thanks for all tweets regarding ... |author=alandavies1 |work=twitter.com |date=10 March 2009 |access-date=21 July 2014 |quote=Thanks for all tweets regarding Ali Bongo's passing. He was a great inventor of tricks & the inspiration for J Creek, nice man.}}</ref>

As the series progresses, Creek gradually changes from an asocial [[anorak (slang)|anorak]] to a man with a great deal of wit and charm. This helps to fuel the romantic thread between him and Maddy. Jonathan's trademark [[duffle coat]] worn in the first series was actually Davies' own coat that he wore to the auditions; it helped him win the role, as the writer and producers thought it suited the character. After the first series, Jonathan's coat was supplied by the wardrobe department. Davies kept the original at his home, and wore it again for the 2009 New Year special.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/jonathan-creek-gets-creepy-976499 |title=Jonathan Creek gets creepy |first=Ian |last=Wylie |work=Manchester Evening News |date=18 December 2008 |access-date=21 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730042551/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/jonathan-creek-gets-creepy-976499 |archive-date=30 July 2014 }}</ref>

For the 2001 Christmas special and thereafter, Quentin declined to appear. As such, a second supporting role was introduced: [[theatrical agent]] Carla Borrego, played by [[Julia Sawalha]]. After her first appearance, the character married TV producer Brendan Baxter ([[Adrian Edmondson]]), and she became a TV presenter.  A third supporting role was introduced when the show returned in 2009 after a five-year hiatus.  From "The Grinning Man" onwards, Creek was assisted by online paranormal investigator Joey Ross, played by [[Sheridan Smith]]. As Smith was unable to appear in the fifth series due to other commitments, she was replaced by [[Sarah Alexander]] as Creek's wife and newest sidekick.

Part of the humour comes from the fact that Jonathan often does not want to get involved in other people's problems, and has to be pressured into it by Maddy, Carla or Joey. In "The Scented Room", which centred around a theft from a critic who had lambasted Adam's act, he took great delight in announcing that he had solved the crime but wasn't going to tell anybody how it was done. Initially, Jonathan was only brought in to investigate because he was asked by Maddy due to her having a professional connection to the crime in her role as a journalist, or because it involved an old friend of theirs (such as one case featuring Jonathan being contacted by an old friend of his mother's after her husband was impaled by a sword in a sealed room). As time went on, he acquired a more significant reputation and was independently recruited by such varied contacts as a chief of police or even the United States military.

Over time, the show became noticeably darker, with Jonathan investigating [[psychopaths]], pimps, gangsters and corrupt policemen, who stood in stark contrast to the duplicitous suburbanites of earlier series; one story even saw Maddy being held at gunpoint by a gang member who was only just disarmed thanks to a card trick Jonathan had picked up recently. The [[The Grinning Man (Jonathan Creek)|2009 special]] contained a hybrid of elements from earlier and later series, with the lethal engineering element, somewhat reminiscent of "[[List of Jonathan Creek episodes|Mother Redcap]]", and the torture and murder of a young woman as she is held dangling by a rope in the middle of a room. This theme continued on in "The Judas Tree" with a murderer being killed and her accomplice then being framed for the crime.

In the 2013 episode "The Clue of the Savant's Thumb", Jonathan Creek had left the world of theatre and magic and is now a high-powered businessman with a wife, Polly. Despite this, and his disillusionment with his old work due to the lack of real awe received when he made his announcements, he has still returned to his roots when faced with particularly baffling cases, such as a dead man vanishing from a locked room. During the fifth series, he and his wife move into her family's old village house, with Polly attempting to encourage Jonathan to become part of the local lifestyle, but Jonathan is distracted by various minor mysteries, as well as enthusiastic fans asking for his assistance. The Christmas 2016 special sees a similar format to past specials as an old secret – in this case, an apparently demonic ritual where women witness their lovers thrown through the air into a fire – plays a key role in the death of a man Jonathan once cleared of murder (although the subsequent investigation prompts Jonathan to realise that the man actually ''did'' commit the crime of which he was accused).

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Jonathan Creek episodes}}
{{:List of Jonathan Creek episodes}}

==Music==
The distinctive [[theme music|theme tune]] is an arrangement by [[Julian Stewart Lindsay]] of [[Camille Saint-Saëns]]'s ''[[Danse Macabre (Saint-Saëns)|Danse Macabre]]''. Lindsay wrote the incidental music for the first three series, after which it was written by [[Rick Wentworth]].

==Broadcast==
===Ratings===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Series
! Series premiere
! Series finale
! No. of<br />episodes
! Avg. UK viewers<br />(in millions)
! Most watched episode
! UK Viewers<br />(millions)
|-
| 1
| 10 May 1997
| 7 June 1997
| 5
| 8.43
| "Jack in the Box"
| 9.35
|-
| 2
| 24 January 1998
| 28 February 1998
| 6
| 9.70
| "Mother Redcap"
| 10.92
|-
| 3
| 27 November 1999
| 2 January 2000
| 6
| 10.69
| "Miracle in Crooked Lane"
| 11.45
|-
| 4
| 1 March 2003
| 28 February 2004
| 6
| 8.97
| "Angel Hair"
| 9.9
|-
| Specials
| 1 January 2009
| 1 April 2013
| 3
| 8.43
| "The Grinning Man"
| 9.91
|-
| 5
| 28 February 2014
| 14 March 2014
| 3
| 7.36
| "The Letters of Septimus Noone"
| 8.09
|}

===Awards and nominations===
{{Anchor|Awards}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|- style= text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:5%;"|Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Award
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Category
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Recipient(s)
! scope="col" style="width:10%;"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
|rowspan="7"|1998
|rowspan="3"|[[British Academy Television Awards 1998|BAFTA TV Award]]
|[[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]
|Susan Belbin, Sandy Johnson, Marcus Mortimer, David Renwick
|{{won}}
|
|-
|Best Design
|John Asbridge, Jonathan Taylor
|{{nominated}}
|
|-
|Best Sound (Fiction/Entertainment)
|Terry Elms, Craig Irving, Laurie Taylor, Lee Crichlow, Ben Norrington
|{{nominated}}
|
|-
|Broadcasting Press Guild Awards
|Writer's Award
|David Renwick
|{{won}}
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[8th National Television Awards|National Television Awards]]
|Most Popular Drama Series
!
|{{won}}
|
|-
|Most Popular Actor
|[[Alan Davies]]
|{{nominated}}
|
|-
| [[Royal Television Society Programme Awards|RTS Awards]]
| Newcomer - On Screen
| Alan Davies
| {{nom}}
| 
|-
|rowspan="3"|1999
|[[British Academy Television Awards 1999|BAFTA TV Award]]
|[[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]
|Verity Lambert, Keith Washington, David Renwick, Sandy Johnson
|{{nominated}}
|
|-
|[[British Comedy Awards]]
|Best TV Comedy Drama
|Episode: "Black Canary"
|{{nominated}}
|
|-
| [[Royal Television Society Programme Awards|RTS Awards]]
|Best Drama Series
!
|{{won}}
|
|-
|2004
|[[British Comedy Award]]
|Best TV Comedy Drama
!
|{{nominated}}
|
|}

==Adaptations and possible return==
===Similarity to other television programmes===
Other television programmes have utilised the formula of a magician helping police to solve crimes,<ref name="findarticles.com">{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19970615/ai_n14464919 | work=Sunday Mirror | title=Ban on eating and drinking on buses is just the ticket | date=15 June 1997}} {{dead link|date=July 2014}}</ref> such as the U.S.-made programmes ''[[The Magician (U.S. TV series)|The Magician]]'', starring [[Bill Bixby]], which aired in 1973–74, and 1986's short-lived ''[[Blacke's Magic]]'', starring [[Hal Linden]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usf.usfca.edu/pj//creek_corcos.htm |title=The Magical World of Jonathan Creek |first=Christine Alice |last=Corcos |work=Picturing Justice: The On-line Journal of Law and Popular Culture |date=27 April 2004 |access-date=21 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805221145/http://usf.usfca.edu/pj//creek_corcos.htm |archive-date=5 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Attempts at remakes===
There have been three attempts to make a U.S. version of ''Jonathan Creek''. The first involved [[Castle Rock Entertainment|Castle Rock]], the production company behind series such as ''[[Seinfeld]]'', but the initial scripts were not felt to be good enough, and Renwick's scripts were rejected by [[CBS]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/jonathancreek/usa/index.shtml |title=Jonathan Creek - The American Series |work=BBC |date=September 2005 |access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref> The second attempt, also by Renwick, was for [[Whoopi Goldberg]] and would have included Davies.<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/>

===Possible return===
In 2021, Davies commented that Renwick "wouldn’t tell me if he had written a script. But if he did write one, I would do it, out of loyalty to him. I can’t see it happening, but who knows."<ref>Fletcher, Alex. (2021). [https://www.bt.com/tv/comedy/alan-davies-as-yet-untitled-dave-jonathan-creek-strictly "Alan Davies TV Passions: The As Yet Untitled star talks Strictly, Taskmaster and the future of Jonathan Creek"]. bt.com. Retrieved 2 April 2022.</ref>

In a 2021 interview, Renwick discussed his retirement from television and referred to "Daemon's Roost" as "the final ''Jonathan Creek''",<ref>Richardson, Jay. (2021). [https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/david_renwick/features/david-renwick-interview/ "David Renwick on resurrecting Victor Meldrew interview"]. comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2022.</ref> suggesting an end to the series. Davies, Quentin, and other former cast members have made clear that they would return to the show if invited.

===Stage adaptation===
In September 2022, it was reported that Renwick had written stage adaptations of the show and that Davies and Quentin had shown interest in reprising their roles. However, the project has been on hold since the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/one-foot-grave-could-become-090000663.html | title=One Foot in the Grave could become a West End musical | date=6 September 2022 }}</ref>

==Home media==
===Regions 2 (UK) and 4 (AUS)===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! DVD !! Date
|-
| Series 1 & 2 || 16 February 2004 
|-
| Series 3 & 4 & the Christmas Specials || 2 August 2004
|-
| Complete Series 1–4 & the Christmas Specials (gold-coloured) || 29 November 2004
|-
| The Grinning Man || 19 October 2009
|-
| The Judas Tree || 12 April 2010
|-
| Complete Series 1–4 & the Christmas Specials  (blue-coloured)|| 4 October 2010
|-
| The Clue of the Savant's Thumb || 6 May 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jonathan-Creek-Clue-Savants-Thumb/dp/B00BEYWV44/ref=sr_1_6?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1362693299&sr=1-6|title=Jonathan Creek - The Clue of the Savant's Thumb DVD|work=Amazon.co.uk |access-date=7 March 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Series 5 || 17 March 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jonathan-Creek-Series-5-DVD/dp/B00IGRO41U/ref=sr_1_299?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1392631426&sr=1-299|title=Jonathan Creek: Series 5 [DVD] |work=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=17 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Daemons' Roost || 6 February 2017
|-
| The Complete Collection<br><small>(Series 1-5 plus six specials)</small> || 6 February 2017
|}

* Series 1 was released in Region 1 (US/Canada) in December 2006.
* Series 2 was released in Region 1 in late 2007.
* Series 3 was released in Region 1 on 20 January 2009.
* Series 4 was released in Region 1 on 19 January 2010.
* The Specials were released in Region 1 on 19 October 2010.

== Awards ==

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Nominated for
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| align="center" | 1999 || [[Royal Television Society Programme Awards|RTS Awards]] || Best Drama Series || {{won}} || align="center" | <ref>{{ cite web | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001637/19990408/037/0007 | title = After dinner we cleaned up  | newspaper = The Stage | date = 8 April 1999 | access-date = 8 July 2025 | url-access=subscription | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] }}</ref>
|}

==Footnotes==
{{notelist|30em}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{BBC programme}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100708003234/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/28098 ''Jonathan Creek''] at the [[British Film Institute]]
* {{Screenonline TV title|991910}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0118363|title=Jonathan Creek}}
* {{Epguides|JonathanCreek}}
* {{British Comedy Guide|tv|jonathan_creek}}
* [http://www.jonathancreek.net/ Jonathan Creek Homepage]

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''Jonathan Creek''
|list =
{{BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series}}
{{National Television Award for Outstanding Drama Series}}
}}

[[Category:BBC crime drama television shows]]
[[Category:1997 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2016 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1990s British crime drama television series]]
[[Category:1990s British mystery television series]]
[[Category:2000s British crime drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s British mystery television series]]
[[Category:2010s British crime drama television series]]
[[Category:2010s British mystery television series]]
[[Category:Cozy mystery television series]]
[[Category:Fictional amateur detectives|Creek, Jonathan]]
[[Category:Fictional American detectives]]
[[Category:Television series produced at Pinewood Studios]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]