Ludwig, the hit detective series starring David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin, will return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One after a stellar first run. The series captivated audiences, attracting over 9.5 million viewers, making it the BBC’s biggest scripted show of the year to date, the largest since 2022. It’s the biggest launch for a comedy since at least 2018.
Created and written by Mark Brotherhood and produced by Big Talk Studios, which is part of ITV Studios, in collaboration with That Mitchell and Webb Company, the binge-worthy comedy-drama wrapped up its first series last night (Wednesday 30th October). Described as ‘the funniest show on TV this year’ (The Guardian) and ‘a comedy triumph’ (Daily Telegraph), Ludwig has been praised by both critics and viewers alike.
The show follows John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, whose identical twin brother James mysteriously vanishes. John takes on his brother’s identity to uncover the truth behind his disappearance. But there’s a twist: John has lived a quiet, uneventful life, designing puzzles and avoiding the outside world, while his brother is a high-flying DCI leading a major crimes team in Cambridge. Filling in for James leads to hilariously high stakes and serious crime-solving.
For the second series, David Mitchell returns as Ludwig, alongside Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor, the wife of John’s missing brother James.
David Mitchell says: “I’m delighted that John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor has failed to escape the clutches of the Cambridge police and will have to continue to face up to the city’s alarming conundrum-based crime wave.”
Kenton Allen, Executive Producer and CEO Big Talk Studios, says: “The success of Ludwig is a testament to the power of Mark Brotherhood’s sharp and intelligent storytelling combined with the phenomenal talents of David, Anna and the brilliant supporting cast. It’s no surprise to me that the show has been such a resounding hit in these uncertain times. I think audiences crave solutions to life’s problems and Ludwig’s detective skills give us all comfort in this often puzzling world”.
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning, says: “The blend of top-tier British comic talent, a gripping mystery, and brilliantly crafted crime storylines had viewers hooked from day one. We had high hopes for Ludwig, and it’s safe to say this comedy-detective series with a twist has become a true standout. We can’t thank Mark Brotherhood, David Mitchell, Anna Maxwell Martin, and the entire cast and crew enough for creating something so special. We’re eagerly awaiting series two, though it’s a bit of a shame we’ll have to spoil the surprises for ourselves by actually reading the scripts first!”
Mark Brotherhood, Creator and Writer, says: “We’ve all been blown away by the reaction to Ludwig and I’m thrilled we get to come back with a whole new set of puzzles for him to solve in his unique way”.
Ludwig is a Big Talk Studios production in association with That Mitchell And Webb Company. Series two will again be written by Mark Brotherhood. The executive producers are Kenton Allen, Mark Brotherhood, David Mitchell, Kathryn O’Connor and Chris Sussman. The new series was commissioned by Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning. The BBC Commissioning Editor is Tanya Qureshi. Ludwig is produced in association with ITV Studios, which also handles international distribution. The series is a BritBox co-production for the United States and Canada.
