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The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The first BBC drama to be filmed entirely on location in Botswana, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a charming story chronicling the adventures of Mma Ramotswe, a Motswana woman who starts up the country's first female-owned detective agency. Based on the novels by Alexander McCall Smith.

Genres: Drama, Comedy, Crime

Premiered: 2009-03-15

Runtime: 60 mins

Status: Ended

Rating: 8/10

Network: BBC One

Main Cast

Jill ScottJill Scott
as Precious Ramotswe
Anika Noni RoseAnika Noni Rose
as Mma Makutsi
Lucian MsamatiLucian Msamati
as JLB Matekoni

Episode Guide

Season 1

  • Episode 1: The Big Bonanza
    Aired: Mar 15, 2009

    Botswana's No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency is in desperate need of clients. To boost business, Mma Makutsi prints up flyers, which seem to do the trick. Mma Ramotswe soon finds herself hunting down an absconding apostolic, finding a disappearing dog, and checking up on a definitely disturbed dentist.

  • Episode 2: Poison
    Aired: Mar 22, 2009

    Mma Ramotswe gets caught between a dangerous case of ivory smuggling and a feuding family when she is asked to investigate the unusual behaviour of Rra Lisindi, owner of Lisindi's curio shop, and the case of a possible poisoner..Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi is entrusted with the task of solving Tlokweng Hospital's spate of mysteriously regular deaths.

  • Episode 3: The Boy with an African Heart
    Aired: Mar 29, 2009

    Mma Ramotswe is helping Mrs Curtin to find her son who has been missing for 10 years. Unsure whether he is alive or dead, Mma Ramotswe digs up his past, only to uncover some shocking truths. Meanwhile, keen to prove her worth as an assistant detective rather than just a secretary, Mma Makutsi is left trying to solve the Kgale hill break-ins.

  • Episode 4: Problems in Moral Philosophy
    Aired: Apr 5, 2009

    When Mma Pekwane suspects her husband of buying a stolen car, Mma Ramotswe offers some creative advice, which involves a foray into auto theft.Mma Makutsi - complete with fabulous new Assistant Detective hairstyle - embarks on her first case, full of undercover operations, high speed car chases and quick getaways.

  • Episode 5: Beauty and Integrity
    Aired: Apr 12, 2009

    Mma Makutsi investigates the behaviour of contestants in a local beauty pageant, while Mma Ramotswe has trouble solving the case of Nandira Patel's mystery boyfriend. To make things worse, the contemptible Cephas Buthelezi opens a rival agency and is intent on taking the ladies down.

  • Episode 6: A Real Botswana Diamond
    Aired: Apr 19, 2009

    The No.1 Ladies are the latest victims of the Kgale Hill break-ins and Mma Ramotswe and JLB Matekoni's engagement is not going as smoothly as expected. Note Mokoti's return, fake diamonds and Cephas Buthelezei's ruthless attempt at blackmail, force Mma Ramotswe to face her demons before she can move on.