Photo: Acorn TV

With series 3 of Agatha Raisin resting somewhat comfortably in our collective rearview mirrors since this past Summer, rumors of a series 4 are now officially confirmed by Sky One and Acorn TV. Starring Ashley Jensen as the titular amateur detective, four more feature-length stories of the crime-based comedy drama have been ordered. Filming has been on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic but word out of the UK is that series 4 will officially begin production in March, with a target transmission date in late 2021 or early 2022.

As with the previous 3 series, Agatha Raisin will adapt four of M.C. Beaton’s novels, Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbye, Agatha Raisin: Love, Lies & Liquor, Agatha Raisin & the Spoonful of Poison, and Agatha Raisin: There Goes the Bride. The new installments will be available as either eight 45-minute episodes or four 90-minute TV movies…

• “Kissing Christmas Goodbye” – Agatha Raisin is bored. Her detective agency in the Cotswolds is thriving, but she’ll scream if she has to deal with another missing cat or dog. Only two things seem to offer potential excitement: Christmas, and her ex, James Lacey. This year Agatha’s sure that if she invites James to a splendid Christmas dinner, their love will rekindle like a warm Yule log…but that fantasy will have to wait for now A wealthy widow–who sent Agatha a letter before her death saying that one of her family intended to kill her–has been found dead. Now Agatha must set out to find the murderer, even though in her heart, she’s still dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones she and James used to know…
• “Love, Lies and Liquor” – Agatha Raisin is lonely. Busy as she is with her detective agency and the meetings of the Carsely Ladies’ Society, she still misses her ex-husband, James Lacey. So when he suddenly resurfaces and invites her on holiday at a surprise location, she’s ready to go yesterday. With visions of a romantic hideaway in Italy or the Pacific dancing in her head, Agatha sets off with James to…Snoth-on-Sea, in Sussex. While James may have fond memories of boyhood holidays there, the once-grand Palace Hotel is in shambles and freezing cold as are fellow guests and newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Jankers, who pick a fight with Agatha one night. Just as she and James prepare to flee to warmer climes, Geraldine Jankers is found dead on the beach…strangled with Agatha’s scarf. So much for holiday fantasies: For Agatha, trouble has a way of following her even when romance does not…
• “A Spoonful of Poison” – Agatha Raisin’s detective agency has become so successful that now all she wants is some R&R. But as soon as she cuts back her hours, Agatha remembers that when she has too much quality time, she doesn’t know what to do with it. So it doesn’t take much for the vicar of a nearby village to persuade her to help publicize the church fête — especially when the fairs organizer, George Selby, happens to be a gorgeous widower. Problem is: Several of the offerings in the jam-tasting booth turn out to be poisoned…and the festive family event soon becomes a murder scene. Now Agatha must uncover the truth behind the jam tampering and expose the nasty secrets lurking in the seemingly innocent village — all while falling for handsome George, who may just have some secrets of his own…
• “There Goes The Bride” – Much as it goes against the grain, Agatha Raisin is trying to be a good sport. Even though her ex-husband James Lacey’s upcoming marriage to the beautiful Felicity Bross-Tilkington fills her heart with dread, she takes a break from her successful detective agency to attend the wedding. It seems like a good idea at the time — especially since Agatha’s had her sights on the tres handsome Frenchman Sylvan Dubois. But as soon as she lays eyes on James, she realizes she’s still desperately in love. Then, just moments before saying “I do,” Felicity is shot. And now Agatha — highly competitive, hopelessly romantic, and no stranger to scandal — is named the prime suspect in her murder….

“I am overjoyed to be returning as Agatha Raisin.” Jensen said recently. “It’s a role I love playing and a show that is very close to my heart. I am excited to see what’s in store for Agatha and her merry band of misfits in Series 4.”’

Ashley Jensen will once again return as Agatha, along with other familiar faces such as Mathew Horne (Gavin & Stacey) as Roy Silver, Jamie Glover (Waterloo Road) as James Lacey, Jason Merrells (Safe House) as Sir Charles Fraith, Lucy Liemann (Rev) as Sarah Bloxby, Matt McCooey as Bill Wong, Jason Barnett (Bridgerton) as Inspector Wilkes and Marcia Warren as Mrs. Boggle.

While we hang out waiting for S4, here’s a quick look back at S3…

Look for Agatha Raisin S4 coming in late 2021, early 2022.