Jill Scott series coming in SA TVs

Alexander McCall Smith's popular series of detective books are coming to the small screen, with a remake of his first book, No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. This seven part mini-series starts on M-Net, Monday 3 August at 21:30.

As a young girl growing up in the African nation of Botswana, Precious Ramotswe was encouraged by her father, to follow her dreams, no matter what. When Precious was a little girl, she spent her days with her father in the wilds of Botswana, learning to use her eyes, her ears, her memory and her patience to solve any mysteries surrounding her.

Years later, after her beloved father dies, Precious inherits his 180 cows – a windfall that draws the interest of her abusive ex-husband, Note, (a trumpet player) and conniving lawyer Lucky. Now in her mid-30s, Precious is embarking on an almost improbable career that utilises the unique gifts of inquisition and intuition she learned earlier in life to benefit those who need help the most. She beats the odds by opening her country’s first and only female owned detective agency at Kgale Hill, Gaborone, Botswana, and fittingly calls it, ‘No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’.

Assisted by her efficient yet highly strung and devoted secretary Grace Makutsi (played Anika Noni Rose), Precious investigates a variety of cases, helping townspeople solve ‘mysteries’ in their lives, from dubious fathers, to missing children, to philandering husbands and con-artist scams. She also begins a special friendship with a widowed suitor, JLB Matekoni (played by Lucian Msamati), the owner of a local garage.

In the lead role of Precious Ramotswe is R&B singer/songwriter Jill Scott. Other regulars include Anika Noni Rose as Precious’ quirky secretary Grace, Lucian Msamati as her devoted suitor JLB, Colin Salmon (Precious’ abusive ex-husband) and local act Desmond Dube as her neighbor BK, a flamboyant hairdresser. There are several appearances by other South African actors, including Tumisho Masha (who plays conniving lawyer Lucky Sisane), John Kani, Brenda Ngxoli, Kenneth Nkosi, and Keketso Semoko.

As one of the first major film and television project series to be shot entirely on location in Botswana, and to be directed and produced by the late Anthony Minghella (who won an Oscar for Best Director in The English Patient), No.1 Ladies Detective Agency is an amazing story of female intuition and inquisition at its best.

Watch No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency as it starts Monday 3 August at 21:30 on M-Net.