Telemystery: BBC One Commissions Special Episode of Jonathan Creek

BBC One announced today that a 90-minute special episode of Jonathan Creek is being produced and scheduled to air in Spring 2013.

Alan Davies stars as the titular character, a man whose day job is to devise tricks for a stage magician while on the side investigating — and ultimately explaining — "impossible" crimes.

In "The Clue of the Savant's Thumb", Creek and fellow investigator Joey Ross (Sheridan Smith) are drawn into a complex case involving a secret society, seemingly supernatural events at a girls' boarding school, and the miraculous disappearance of a body in front of three witnesses.

"The new story has more than the usual amount of twists and surprises, and I'm very much looking forward to sleuthing again," said Davies. "I can't wait to join Sheridan Smith on set again; we're very lucky to have her. It's nearly 17 years since I first auditioned for the part; the duffle coat is always on standby, even if the periods of duffle-hibernation are quite long these days."

Jonathan Creek first aired in 1997, its first of four seasons. Four additional special episodes were also produced. We thought the first three seasons (with co-star Caroline Quentin) were brilliant; we were less thrilled with the fourth season (with new co-star Julia Sawalha). We're not sure we've seen the four special episodes, so can't comment on those. Still, we're excited by this news and look forward to this new episode (if and when it crosses the Atlantic to our shores!).