Jonathan Creek. Jonathan Creek (Alan Davies). Copyright: BBC
Jonathan Creek

Jonathan Creek

  • TV comedy drama
  • BBC One
  • 1997 - 2016
  • 32 episodes (5 series)

Comedy drama following a creator of magical illusions who finds his expertise suited to solving murders and mysteries. Stars Alan Davies, Caroline Quentin, Stuart Milligan, Julia Sawalha, Adrian Edmondson and more.

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The Judas Tree

Jonathan and Joey are called upon to investigate a series of mysterious and spooky events at a house called Green Lanterns.

Further details

Jonathan Creek. Image shows from L to R: Jonathan Creek (Alan Davies), Joey Ross (Sheridan Smith). Copyright: BBC

Jonathan and Joey are called upon to investigate a series of mysterious and spooky events at a house called Green Lanterns.

They concern a young girl called Emily - new housekeeper to the famous mystery writer Hugo Dore and his wife, Harriet. But Emily's new role comes with a house that has its own fair share of history and mystery... When Harriet is seen falling from a window, Emily is arrested on suspicion of murder, though she swears she is innocent. Using his powers of deduction and belief that nothing is at it seems, Creek races against time to uncover a number of intriguing clues which lead him to the unbelievable truth and the revealing of one of the greatest acts of illusion he has encountered yet.

When a young woman becomes seemingly possessed by the spirit of a Victorian sorceress, illusionist Jonathan Creek and intrepid investigator Joey Ross must fight to prove she is innocent of murder, as the supernatural detective drama returns for a one-off special.

In a lofty old timbered house on the outskirts of London, mystery surrounds the strange death of a former owner, Dr Thadeus Northcote, who, in 1889, fell victim to the supernatural powers of his Egyptian housekeeper and secret lover, the sensuously beautiful Selima Al Sharad. Spurned by her master, she is said to have sealed his fate by correctly predicting the exact time and day he would meet a dreadful, agonising death - apparently without any physical or rational explanation.

More than a hundred years later the house, Green Lanterns, has become home to celebrated crime writer Hugo Dore and his publisher wife, Harriet. But even he has been unable to unlock the riddle of Dr Northcote's death.

And when he rescues sweet young Emily Somerton from her menial job in a shoe shop to assist his ageing housekeeper Mrs Gantry, the malign presence of her Victorian predecessor once again appears to stalk the house...

Gradually, Emily becomes convinced she is losing her mind, as a series of mysterious developments suggest she is no longer in control of her own actions - and that an unearthly force is encouraging her to commit murder...

Perhaps a chance meeting with a likeable young man in a duffel coat will offer an avenue of hope?

After a friendly drink with Jonathan Creek at his London hotel the signs couldn't be more auspicious. But as the two of them look set for a romantic night together, things take an unexpected turn for the worse ... and Emily is once again left feeling alone, confused and threatened.

With events at Green Lanterns beginning to spiral out of control it is down to Joey to repair the relationship between Creek and Emily, and set the scene for a strange investigation that will take them, ultimately, to the site of the eerily isolated Judas Tree ... where the solution to the mystery proves more bizarre and shocking than either of them could have imagined.

Notes

This episode was premiered on BBC HD at 22:00 BST on the same date.

Broadcast details

Date
Sunday 4th April 2010
Time
8pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
95 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Friday 31st December 2010 8:40pm BBC1
Sunday 29th May 2011 9:00pm W
Monday 30th May 2011 8:05pm W
Tuesday 2nd April 2013 12:00am W
Saturday 4th May 2013 1:00am W
Monday 6th May 2013 12:50am W
Monday 13th May 2013 1:00am W
Tuesday 24th December 2013 10:00pm Drama
Wednesday 25th December 2013 9:00pm Drama
Sunday 20th April 2014 9:00pm Drama
Sunday 29th June 2014 10:30pm Drama
Monday 30th June 2014 9:00pm Drama
Wednesday 24th December 2014 11:10pm W
Friday 27th March 2015 10:00pm Drama
Saturday 28th March 2015 9:00pm Drama
Monday 14th March 2016 10:00pm Drama
Wednesday 13th April 2016 9:00pm W
Friday 1st July 2016 9:00pm Drama
Saturday 2nd July 2016 6:00pm Drama
Sunday 16th April 2017 12:00am Drama
Sunday 16th April 2017 9:20pm Drama
Wednesday 26th December 2018 8:15pm Drama
Sunday 2nd January 2022 10:35pm Drama
Thursday 14th July 2022 8:00pm Drama
Thursday 23rd March 2023 8:00pm Drama
Monday 8th May 2023 8:00pm Drama
Sunday 16th July 2023 8:00pm Drama
Wednesday 22nd November 2023 8:00pm Drama

Cast & crew

Cast
Alan Davies Jonathan Creek
Stuart Milligan Adam Klaus
Guest cast
Sheridan Smith Joey Ross
Paul McGann Hugo Dore
Sasha Behar Harriet Dore
Natalie Walter Emily Somerton
Doreen Mantle Mrs Gantry
Ian McNeice Father Roderick Alberic
Florence Hall Young Emily
Susanne Ahmet Young and Old Kim
Sean Buckley Old Man
Sofia Hayat Selima El Sharad
Kevin McGowan Dr Thadeus Northcote
Amanda Hadingue Dr Northcote's Wife
Felix Dexter Sebastian Tench
Marva Alexander Forewoman
Nigel Carrington Clerk
Gregor Henderson-Begg Danny Dore
Marc Small Frank Osante
Writing team
David Renwick Writer
Production team
David Renwick Director
Rosemary McGowan Producer

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