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The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

  • TV Series
  • 2008–20092008–2009
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
This is the official trailer for the new drama "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," premiering March 29 on HBO.
Play trailer0:31
3 Videos
20 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Drama

A woman opens her own detective agency in Botswana.A woman opens her own detective agency in Botswana.A woman opens her own detective agency in Botswana.

IMDb RATING
8.2/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Jill Scott
    • Anika Noni Rose
    • Lucian Msamati
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Jill Scott
    • Anika Noni Rose
    • Lucian Msamati
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 28User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 5 wins & 17 nominations total

    Episodes7

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    2009

    Videos3

    The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Clip 2
    Clip 0:45
    The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Clip 2
    The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Clip 1
    Clip 1:03
    The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Clip 1
    The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Official Trailer.
    Trailer 0:31
    The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Official Trailer.

    Photos20

    Jill Scott in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    CCH Pounder and Jill Scott in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    Anika Noni Rose in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    Nyasha Hatendi in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    Moshidi Motshegwa in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    Lucian Msamati in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    Jill Scott in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    Anika Noni Rose in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    Idris Elba and Jill Scott in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    Desmond Dube and Jill Scott in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    Jill Scott in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)
    Anika Noni Rose, Jill Scott, and Lucian Msamati in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jill Scott
    Jill Scott
    • Precious Ramotsweas Precious Ramotswe
    7 episodes7 eps • 2008–2009
    Anika Noni Rose
    Anika Noni Rose
    • Grace Makutsias Grace Makutsi
    7 episodes7 eps • 2008–2009
    Lucian Msamati
    Lucian Msamati
    • JLB Matekonias JLB Matekoni
    7 episodes7 eps • 2008–2009
    Desmond Dube
    • BKas BK
    7 episodes7 eps • 2008–2009
    Thabo Malema
    • Charlieas Charlie…
    5 episodes5 eps • 2008–2009
    Tau Maserumule
    • Fanwellas Fanwell…
    5 episodes5 eps • 2008–2009
    Lebogang Motubudi
    • Richard Makutsias Richard Makutsi
    4 episodes4 eps • 2009
    Harish Patel
    Harish Patel
    • Mr. Patelas Mr. Patel
    3 episodes3 eps • 2009
    Brenda Ngxoli
    • Florence Pekoas Florence Peko
    3 episodes3 eps • 2009
    Dipshikha Mahajan
    • Nandira Patelas Nandira Patel
    3 episodes3 eps • 2009
    Mosako Mogara
    • Wellingtonas Wellington
    3 episodes3 eps • 2009
    Kgomotso Delia Tshwenyego
    • Roseas Rose…
    3 episodes3 eps • 2008–2009
    Paterson Joseph
    Paterson Joseph
    • Cephas Buthelezias Cephas Buthelezi
    2 episodes2 eps • 2009
    Vusi Kunene
    Vusi Kunene
    • Doctor Gulubaneas Doctor Gulubane
    2 episodes2 eps • 2008–2009
    Colin Salmon
    Colin Salmon
    • Note Makotias Note Makoti
    2 episodes2 eps • 2008–2009
    Kenneth Nkosi
    • Two Shots Pulanias Two Shots Pulani
    2 episodes2 eps • 2009
    Keketso Semoko
    • Mma Potokwaneas Mma Potokwane
    2 episodes2 eps • 2009
    Nikki Amuka-Bird
    Nikki Amuka-Bird
    • Alice Busangas Alice Busang
    1 episode1 ep • 2008
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    After her father's death, sensible and cheerful Mma Precious Ramotswe sells her inherited cattle and opens the country's only female-owned detective agency. She hires Botswana Secretarial College graduate (97% in the final exams!) Grace Makutsi as her assistant. Together they solve problems big and small with their wisdom, big hearts, and endless cups of red-bush tea. Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe's best friend, mechanic Mr. JLB Matekoni, hopes for a chance to win her heart... Based on Alexander McCall Smith's best-selling book series. —L. Hamre
    • the weinstein company
    • hbo
    • botswana
    • undercover
    • small business
    • 13 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Family
      • Mystery
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the course of trying to gain weight before playing the role of Precious Ramotswe, Jill Scott noticed that she had gained seven pounds in one week (an extremely fast and potentially unhealthy weight gain). Concerned, she went to her doctor and discovered the day before she left for Botswana that she was pregnant. After she finished filming the first season, Scott returned to the US and in April 2009, gave birth to her son, Jett Hamilton Roberts.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)

    User reviews28

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Sparkling Jewel!
    Sometimes a series comes along that outshines all the rest. The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency is such a jewel of artistic excellence. When I first heard the buzz about a new HBO series, featuring an African-American female detective (who wasn't a size -2), my interest was sparked – and the previews only increased my impatience and anticipation. I can testify here and now that the cast, direction, and script writing always leave me wanting more.

    Based on the best-selling novels by Alexander McCall Smith, #1 centers around Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott), who left her homeland after burying her father and child. A victim of domestic abuse, Precious seeks a new life in Botswana, as the #1 Ladies' Detective". It's obvious by her adventurous spirit and career choice that she views herself as "made of strong stuff".

    Strong stuff indeed! In no time, she opens her agency, hires a secretary Grace Makutsi, (Anika Rose), who proudly declares, "I've scored 97%, the highest in the history of the secretarial college!" Add a common-sense boyfriend with a bad case of shyness and a gay hairdresser with a perchance for flowery shirts and cute hats, and you have a recipe for weekly success.

    It's not unusual for an episode to begin in good humor, only to end with this reviewer dissolved in tears and tissues. The stories feature sordid kidnappings, murder, and drug dealing to the usual suspects of cheating spouses, quarreling families, and petty thieves.

    Yet the smartest element of this delightful show is the use of Botswana and its people as its weekly setting. The rich culture and customs woven into each mystery, provides us with characters and situations that never fail to fascinate. And in the end, what appears different strikes a familiar chord, because it's a small world after all.
    helpful•21
    3
    • OutsideHollywoodLand
    • Feb 2, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 29, 2009 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • South Africa
    • Official site
      • BBC (United Kingdom)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Tswana
    • Also known as
      • Damernas detektivbyrå
    • Filming locations
      • Gaborone, Botswana
    • Production companies
      • The Weinstein Company
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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