Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators (TV Series) O Brave New World (2018) User Reviews

Nice start for the new, unusual duo.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 6 February 2019]

You get the impression that the afternoon slot is now being taken seriously, all we had was Moving on, then we got the wonderful Father Brown, and now we have Shakespeare and Hathaway.

A really solid start, it feels like Father Brown for present day, the same sort of tone, similar crime, and similar setup. Mark Benton and Jo Joyner are terrific as the two lead actors.

It was funny, entertaining, and nicely acted, it really is modern day Father Brown.

Good Start

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 24 March 2019]

Excellent series title. Like so many first episodes, one has to realize there are going to be some contrivances. But the two principles, plus the secretary are fun characters. I'm determined to watch the next episode and get a better feeling of the chemistry. The first offering has our depressed detective getting involved with a middle aged woman (Shakespeare) when she is taken advantage of by a man who she actually marries. It is quite funny and promises some decent case work as well.

"I need a partner like I need a hole in the head"

[ygwerin1 · 7/10 · 14 May 2021]

At the very commencement we find that the Detective Agency consists simply of Private Eye extraordinaire Frank Hathaway replete with Sebastian Brudenell, his assistant an acting student but for Frank his general fact totem.

Luella Shakespeare is due to be married to her beloved but on the eve of her nuptials but she becomes convinced that her intended is being unfaithful, and in desperation decides to hire Frank Hathaway to see if she has any grounds for her suspicions.

Frank Hathaway initial tries to claim that he finds "Extra marital's as a waste of his talents", but as he is even to boracic to fund light refreshment for his clients, he decides to make an exception in her case.

The local old bill is headed by a Detective Inspector Marlowe who we learn used to work with Frank Hathaway when he was her superior officer, there is an obvious under current of something interesting that waits to be unearthed.

All to soon Luella Shakespeare finds that she is urgent need of Frank Hathaway's professional services for an altogether different, and far more serious matter that threatens her very liberty.

A promising start

[safenoe · 8/10 · 6 April 2021]

I've watched most of the 30 episodes to date of Shakespeare and Hathaway, and this is the second time I've watched episode 1. Even though it replaced a series I loved (The Coroner) I am a big fan of Shakespeare and Hathaway. In fact, the theme music of the series is composed by Debbie Wiseman, who also composed the music for The Coroner.

Anyway, here we see how Lu put aside her former life as a hairdresser to become a private investigator. Amber Agar makes her debut appearance in as DI Marlow but unfortunately she didn't return for season 3. Why? There appears to be a conspiracy of silence of why Amber didn't return. She's much better than Tomos Eames, who portrays his copper role as a bit too one dimensional.

O Brave New World

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 26 February 2018]

A daytime detective series, Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators sounds so ITV but it ends up taking the Father Brown slot on the BBC.

Frank Hathaway (Mark Benton) is an ex cop but now a down on the dumps private investigator trying to stay one step ahead of his creditors. Luella Shakespeare (Jo Joyner) is an hairdresser who consults Frank thinking her future husband might be unfaithful. It turns out he was a serial swindler and womaniser. Lu is arrested for his murder.

Both team up to get Lu's name cleared and now she wants in on the private investigation game.

It probably has too much comedy and slapstick in this opening episode, it also felt a bit flat but it was a promising opener.