Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

This show is a great hours worth of British television. The main character, Hetty,who is played by Pat Routledge is best known for her ever social climbing status character Hyacinth BUCKET, pronounced Bouquet. The rest of the ensemble make you feel like they could be your next door neighbors. Geoffery, Janet and Hetty's husband Robert have that "real" feel about them. The show revolves around an older lady who does detective work, with the help, at times, from the local police inspector, D.C.I. Adams. The show has a nice flow to it, and the story lines are played out at a nice pace. A show worth watching whenever you can find it on PBS. Let's hope soon that we can find it on Video or DVD in the near future.

What really makes this series is Hetty's demeanor. It's hard to explain but she is comforting and fierce at the same time. I love the humdrum British world it takes us to, a different culture and setting than the one I live in, but I appreciate that it gives me a taste of simpler times.

My favorite episodes: Helping Hansi (a German gardener is being harassed by residents of a building complex and pinned as a Nazi. His acting of his isolation was really good.) Woman of the Year (Hetty solves a crime at a home for battered women. It's well done) , Runaways (Again a hard topic is addressed: Hetty finds out where a two mentally disabled young adults who are in love ran off to), Fisticuffs .

I am still struck by the sheer quality of the episodes, everything worked wonderfully well in conjunction, the writing, plots, charm and of course the acting.

Routledge is a joy as the Private Detective, and the chemistry with Monaghan is great, as you watch you get the impression that the pair enjoyed working with one another.

There are some super episodes, and it never really dips in quality. They produced some very memorable, and sometimes sad episodes, but there was always a story to tell, and some great characters.

Hard to believe they were made back in 1996, it was a bold series for the time, very different. It's as good in 2020 as it was back then. 9/10

Well written with interesting clues and wit. Closer to everyday actual situations than most over the top mystery dramas. The main characters developed well and the show itself held to reasonable expectations given the main characters. I would have gladly watched more episodes.

I first saw this program when it appeared on the PBS "Mystery" series. I keep asking for more. Patricia Routledge surely shows that she's quite adept at performing in a mystery program as well as in comedies. I wonder if she (Hetty Wainthropp) ever investigated a

murder in any of these programs. I'm sure she'd do quite well. I know Patricia Routledge did an audio recording of some of these programs, but don't know where I can purchase them in the USA. If anyone can tell me, please contact kclarke5@juno.com. Let's hope PBS gets on the stick and rebroadcasts some of these programs, especially in Kansas City Public Television!