No 1 lady's a ratings reviver

Published on Sunday 23 March 2008 20:09

MMA Precious Ramotswe sat out under the hot African sun drinking a cup of her favourite red bush tea. Business was slow at the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Perhaps that might change now she was a television personality. Would she become as famous as Morse or Taggart? That was hard to say, as she had never actually met either of them. Certainly the money would come in handy. She might indulge in another pair of shoes? Or she could buy her husband, Mr JLB Matekoni, a new chair?

Mma Ramotswe picked up a copy of the local paper and looked to see what the new television critic, Aunty Emang, had to say. Mma Ramotswe had once corrected Aunty Emang on the error of her blackmailing ways but the writer did not seem to hold that against her. More worryingly, there was a picture of Mma Ramotswe. Perhaps it was time she started dieting again.

This thought was worthy of another cup of tea. She went to the kitchen where she found Mr JLB Matekoni. "Sometimes a detective series is successful," he said. "And sometimes it is not."

Just then the phone rang. The mysterious caller (a "Mr Grade") whispered: "My ratings are falling. Can you help?" Mma Ramotswe pondered for a moment. "You must try making decent drama again," she answered. There was a sob at the end of the line. Once again Mma Ramotswe had saved the day. "Time for tea," she smiled.