"Pie In The Sky"

"Pie In The Sky" British detective series -- how did my spouse and I miss this one?!  We were watching another British detective series in recent months and saw a trailer for this one and don't remember it ever being on a U. S. public broadcasting channel -- or we missed it!  We checked out series 1 from the library and it's definitely a winner so we've requested the second series.

Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe (played by Richard Griffiths of "Harry Potter" and other fame) has been on the force for 25 years and the job is losing its appeal.  What he really wants to do is open a restaurant but his boss, ACC Fisher (played by Malcolm Sinclair), doesn't want him to leave.  (I think he needs Crabbe to keep his good image in place.)  However, Fisher allows him to sort of but not officially retire and open his restaurant, "Pie In The Sky," with the provision  Crabbe has to be available on command when Fisher needs his assistance.

Crabbe's wife, Margaret (played by Maggie Steed) is an accountant so she keeps the books for him and an assortment of other characters.  They sell their home and move into a flat above the restaurant and begin a new adventure together -- He's cooking  with an assortment of young people he's gathered as waiters and chef's assistants and she's taking in the money.  Every episode finds him at Fisher's beck and call, however, off to solve some police mystery or other.  It's a lighthearted and fun adventure following Crabbe around and the show presents its characters with a lot of depth.  If you're a fan of British mysteries, check this one out!   pazt