Nurse Marimbirie

Adapted by Richard Curtis and the late Anthony Minghella from Alexander McCall Smith's bestselling novel and filmed on location in Botswana, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is feelgood television drenched in warmth and colour. After the death of her father, the “fat and fabulous” Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott) sets up a Ladies Detective Agency . Investigating such gentle and humourous investigations such as the "the case of the dubious daddy!" Mme Ramotswe and her uptight secretary Grace Matuska (the excellent Anika Noni Rose) are big , bold characters who overflow with good humour, taking you to an innocent, sun-soaked world that like St Mary Meade and Cranford, probably never existed.

In anyone else's hands, this production could have turned into a somewhat patronising "Sunday evening tv look" at "African " culture, but Minghella develops McCall's obvious affection and respect for his characters to great effect and although frothy and at times wholesome the whole thing was I thought, quite charming.

I have mentioned this before in my blog , but I have many warm memories of working with Southern African nurses in Sheffield.and a particular favourite of mine was Zimbabwe midwife Edith Marimbirie. Watching Jill Scott's warm performance as Mma Ramotswe, it was the precise and lyrical nature of her dialogue that prompted the memories of Nurse Edith.who would light up a room with her wit and laughter.The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency captured that sing song,careful and polite way of speaking, the African people posses quite perfectly.and although lighter than a Walt Disney movie, the whole thing was great Sunday evening viewing.