Last year, the BBC quietly released one of those cosy humerous detective shows called Death Valley. It featured the odd couple of Gwyneth Keyworth as ambitious but socially awkward detective Janie Mallowan teaming up with retired actor John Chapel, played by Timothy Spall. Chapel’s stint as a murder detective on a long-running TV show gives him a useful insight into motives and character arcs, and the pair put their skills to good use solving murders around South Wales.

It’s warm and funny, the stakes aren’t too high (even though it’s a murder series, you know what I mean) and the relationship between the two leads is exceptionally good. I’ve rated Gwyneth Keyworth for a long time and the way she bounces around the place getting under people’s skin is great. And how she is with John Chapel, often calling him by his full name, bringing him out of his shell but also finding that he’s good for her as well, it’s very well done. I liked the show when I watched it and hoped for a second series.

Somehow over the course of the year, this show became really important to me - one of those comfort watches that you put on to soothe the mind, even though you’ve seen it before and know whodunit. I would often mostly just be listening to it, and honestly must have revisited it four or five times.

So I was actually feeling quite nervous about the second series, because what if it didn’t live up to the hype only I was giving this series? Thankfully, having devoured the next six episodes recently, I can say it didn’t ruin what had gone before. Initially, it didn’t feel like it quite matched the quality of the first series, but I would have to give it a few more watches to really be able to compare like for like.

The main thing is, this is a brilliant show that you should watch if you haven’t already, and there are twelve lovely episodes available. And I am actually hoping for a third series as well.