Cosy new crime caper might be just what the doctor ordered

Cosy crime is a big thing these days - a direct line from Midsomer Murders, through New Tricks to Death in Paradise, all the way up to last year's big hit Ludwig and now, Death Valley (BBC1, Sun, 8.15pm).

- Philip Cunnington on Death Valley (BBC)

All of them share certain traits. There are always a couple of main crime-busters - one of whom is usually marked as quirky, with some sort of off-kilter personality trait. There's a regular supporting cast of junior police officers, all of varying levels of competence or comic relief.

There's often a picturesque settingCambridge, the rolling hills of the Home Counties, the Caribbean - and an ever-revolving door of guest stars as the suspects, all of 'oh, that's him out of that thing' variety.

The trouble with sharing so many similarities with so many other shows is that it makes it very difficult to stand out.

Often it comes down to the inventiveness of the murders our detectives are detecting - whether it's being bonked on the head by a wheel of cheese, being drowned in a vat of beer or being poisoned by a cigar.