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Guest stars
Peter Davison, Pippa Heywood, Gavan O'Herlihy and Stuart Milligan.
Directed by Sandy Johnson
First transmitted 24th January 1998
Ratings 9.68 million
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The Puzzle:
Queen of Horror, the best-selling author Emma Lazarus, is killed at her daughter Lorna's home, shortly after a Halloween costume party, also attended by her husband Tom. The assailant, dressed as a skeleton, then knocks Lorna unconscious and attempts to escape with her.
But the plan backfires when bodyguard Hal shoots out the tyres of the getaway car, leaving the criminal trapped with Lorna in a garage with no means of escape. When the police arrive, however, he has indeed fled, leaving Lorna behind, baffled and upset. How did the killer escape from the sealed room?
Lorna's husband, the Reverend Stephen Claithorne, seeks Maddy's help. But with Jonathan sorting out Adam Klaus's complex love life, can she get to the bottom of the mystery with only limited access to her friend's expertise? [Solution]
Quiz
Five quick questions to test your knowledge of the episode.
Alan Davies
"[Verity Lambert joining the show] was easy in the end. It was a bit of a worry, I think, especially for David, because his relationship with [previous Producer] Susan Belbin was very, very good and he, by that time, needed someone on his side because he was simply not really prepared to compromise too much on his ideas and what he wanted to happen.
"Jonathan Creek had been an idea of his for five years and she'd always fought his corner and helped him make the show what it was. We had won the Bafta award for best drama after the first series - which I think got up the noses of the drama department because we were a comedy department - but to have Verity come in with all her experience and know how and to take over I think was a great option.
"Susie decided to retire and she was much missed. To be honest, had Verity been the producer from the beginning, I don't think I would have been cast. I think it was just my good fortune [that] Susie was an in-house BBC producer who saw me at a BBC read through."
Jonathan Geek:
In this episode we learn the priceless information that Jonathan has a keen interest in the wellbeing of his bowels, and eats Weetabix for tea to keep him regular. He always "goes" between 7 and 7.30am. Well, we're glad that's sorted out.
Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown:
Pippa Heywood is perhaps best-known for starring opposite Chris Barrie as Mrs Brittas in the 90s sitcom The Brittas Empire.
Name that tune:
The episode is named after the title of the Jonathan Creek theme tune - Julian Stewart Lindsey's adaptation of a piece by 19th century French composer Camille Saint Saëns.
The Solution: (point your mouse over the space below)
Lorna worked with Tom to kill Emma Lazarus. The author was dying of a terminal illness, but wanted to stage a swansong befitting her gothic lifestyle. Tom killed his wife with a gun, and then appeared to knock out Lorna in front of bodyguard - and only witness - Hal.
When Hal left the house to bring the car around at the killer's insistence, Lorna put on Tom's skeleton suit and dressed a foam rubber dummy in her costume. Tom remained behind, to later claim the skeleton costume was taken from him. Trapped in the garage, Lorna put her costume back on and cut up the foam rubber dummy, stuffing the pieces into empty paint tins to dispose of the supposed assailant.
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Trivia
Alan Davies had to sign a nudity clause to appear in the show. You can see his bottom in The Eyes of Tiresias.
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