The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a series of radio programmes, based on the series of novels of the same name by Alexander McCall Smith.
McCall Smith himself dramatised the series for BBC Radio 4. Thirty-five episodes have been broadcast, the first on 10 September 2004, and the most recent on 23 September 2019. The episodes encompass the first to the nineteenth books. Claire Benedict plays Mma Ramotswe for most of the episodes up to 2016, with Janice Acquah playing the lead for the 2010 episodes, and from 2017 onwards.
Episodes Date first broadcast Title Director Cast Synopsis BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Daddy Claire Benedict, Nadine Marshall, Joseph Marcell, Janice Acquah, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Jude Akuwudike, Chuk Iwuji, Maynard Eziashi, Peter Gevisser, Noma Dumezweni, Emmanuel Ighodaro, Willie Jonah, Ben Thomas, Alibe Parsons, Bhasker Patel, Nancy Crane, Tehmina Sacranie and Heather Mann Precious Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, takes on her first case – and a new secretary. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Bone Claire Benedict Precious Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, sets out to discover the truth about Nandira Patel's boyfriend and to solve the case of the mysterious bone. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Maid Claire Benedict Mma Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, has good news. However, she must also face a scheming maid, find out the truth behind a doctor's erratic behaviour and take on a new case about a missing American. Tears of the Giraffe BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Tears of the Giraffe Claire Benedict Mr JLB Matekoni has a surprise for Mma Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Meanwhile, the case of the missing American man has still to be solved. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Chief Justice of Beauty Claire Benedict Precious Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, is worried about her fiancé, Mr J L B Matekoni. Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi takes on a case for the Chief Justice of Beauty. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Confession Claire Benedict and Joseph Marcell Precious Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, has to find two women wronged in the past by her client, Mr Molefelo. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Kalahari Typing School for Men Claire Benedict Precious Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, discovers that the agency has competition, and Mma Makutsi embarks on an entrepreneurial enterprise. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Admirer Claire Benedict Precious Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, makes an unhappy discovery and Mma Makutsi finds an admirer at the Kalahari Typing School for Men. 18 January 2007 How to Handle Men through the Application of PsychologyBBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 1: How to Handle Men through the Application of Psychology Claire Benedict, Nadine Marshall, Joseph Marcell, Janice Acquah, Adjoa Andoh, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Chuk Iwuji and Kedar Williams-Stirling Precious Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, sets out to release her fiancé, Mr JLB Matekoni, from a terrifying obligation.