'Detective Agency' to return as series

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency will return to screens next year as a six-part series, the BBC has announced.

A feature-length TV pilot, directed by the late Anthony Minghella, aired in March to impressive ratings and positive reviews from critics.

Based on Alexander McCall-Smith's bestselling novels, the 60-minute episodes will follow the adventures of Botswana's only female detective Mma Ramotswe.

Jill Scott, Anika Noni Rose, Desmond Dube and Lucian Msamati will reprise their roles from the TV pilot. Survivors star Paterson Joseph is a new addition to the cast as Cephas Buthelezi, a rival detective to Mma Ramotswe.

Producer Timothy Bricknell said: "We are determined to make sure the series lives up to Anthony's vision of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

"Everyone involved is very pleased to be back in Botswana and capturing the essence of such a remarkable and extraordinary country."

Charles Sturridge and Tim Fywell will direct the episodes, with Richard Curtis, the late Minghella and the late Sydney Pollack credited as executive producers.

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a co-production between the BBC, HBO and The Weinstein Company.