Shetland star bags huge new role in 'captivating' BBC detective drama with 'superb' cast

The BBC has announced the return of its hit detective show Ludwig, which stars popular comedian David Mitchell in the titular role opposite Motherland's Anna Maxwell Martin.

The broadcaster has also revealed some exciting new names are being added to the cast, including stars from Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag and Scottish crime series Shetland.

Mark Bonnar, who is famed for his roles in Shetland and more recently Netflix's Department Q, is joining the show as newspaper editor Gareth Fisher.

Meanwhile Sian Clifford, best known for playing Claire in Fleabag, will portray local MP Joanne Kemper in the comedy drama.

Other names joining the cast are Deep Cover's Ben Ashenden and After the Flood's Rumi Sutton.

Filming is now underway for season 2 of the Mark Brotherhood series, which is produced by ITV's Big Talk Studios in collaboration with That Mitchell and Webb Company.

The synopsis for the show reads: "While seeking to unravel the mystery of his twin brother's disappearance, reclusive puzzle-designer John 'Ludwig' Taylor takes on his twin brother James's identity as DCI on Cambridge's major crimes squad."

The award-winning show was reportedly the BBC's biggest scripted series of 2024, attracting over 9.5 million viewers.

Ludwig also received glowing reviews, achieving a rare 97% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Critics praised the series for its unique take on the crime genre, with NPR stating: "Created and written by Mark Brotherhood, it arrives with one of the most original and captivating variations on the entire TV mystery genre."

The New Yorker said: "Though much of Ludwig feels comfortingly familiar, and orderly in its methods, it's refreshingly its own thing, too, subverting conventions not just of genre but of trope."

The Boston Globe wrote: "Once you've finished rolling your eyes about how silly all of that is, the show's charms will reel you in for each cozy mystery."

Viewers also loved the BBC detective series, with one fan commenting: "Dark, funny, heartfelt. A weird way to describe this show but that's what it is! If you like a weekly whodunit with a seriously good running story, check this out! It's great!"

Another wrote: "Loved this show! Season 2 better come out soon. It's another murder-an-episode show but with an underlying season mystery. Cast is wonderful, cheers to David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin. Lots of heart and humor."

"I really hope to see Ludwig back soon! Original plot, superb acting, very entertaining!" a third enthused, as one more added: "Delightfully witty and intriguing. Brilliant!!"

Another review read: "Ludwig is one of the most brilliantly clever shows I've ever seen. Even its episode titles showcase remarkable imagination and inventiveness. The characters are captivating, the acting is exceptional, and the storylines are utterly compelling. I can't wait for Series 2!"

One more person wrote: "I was instantly hooked after episode one. A very unique and intriguing detective show. David Mitchell is such an amazing actor to watch. Switching deftly from comical to dramatic. Pure mastery. A real must-see TV show. I highly recommend it."

The description for Ludwig season 2 reads: "Picking up from where things were left at the end of series one, master puzzle-setter John 'Ludwig' Taylor (David Mitchell) is now a Crime Scene Consultant working on 'impossible' crimes for the Cambridge Police Authority.

"No longer having to masquerade as his brother, he's openly more 'Ludwig' than ever - brilliant at solving puzzles but hopeless at everything else.

"But John's identical twin brother, James, is still missing, and now that he's an official employee of the station, John is forbidden from using any police resources to look for his brother or uncover exactly what he was investigating.

"Of course, John won't stop and neither will Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin), John's sister-in-law and wife of his missing brother James - a puzzle needs solving and a husband and father needs bringing home. One masquerade may have ended, but a new one has just begun."

Ludwig season 1 is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.