Clued UP

David Mitchell stars as a puzzle compiler who assumes the identity of his missing detective twin brother

- CAREN CLARK

NEW COMEDY DRAMA

Ludwig

Wed, 9pm, BBC1 (box set, iPlayer)

A socially awkward technophobe swaps puzzle-setting for crimesolving in BBC1’s ingenious new comedy drama Ludwig.

The six-parter stars David Mitchel as sharp-minded, Beethoven-lovin John Taylor, who rarely leaves his home, where he compiles puzzles under the pseudonym ‘Ludwig’. His sheltered life is thrown into turmoil, however, when his sister-in-law Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin) needs his help to locate her husband James, John’s twin, a Cambridge-based detective who has mysteriously vanished.

John reluctantly assumes James’ identity to infiltrate the police station where his brother works and look for clues, but, as he tries to avoid getting caught out by James’ colleagues, John also finds himself using his puzzling skills to investigate a range of baffling crimes.

Here, in an exclusive chat with TV&Satellite Week, Mitchell, 50, tells us what to expect…

This is your first lead role as a television sleuth. What appealed to you? Well, I love murder mysteries and I’ve always wanted to do one. Miss Marple – the Joan Hickson version – was great and I loved David Suchet as Poirot, too, and we always watched