Fans of Tom Barnaby were applauding last night as the latest episode of Midsomer Murders included three bodies, angry caricatures and dodgy sexual relationships.
There were concerns after last week's episode, when it took 80 minutes of the two-hour (including ads) show before the first murder was committed.
But this week, viewers were treated to a louche lord of the manor with a very angry step-son, a furious blacksmith with a play-away girlfriend and an angry boxing promoter with a middle-aged WAG-style, want-away missus.
And although viewers were still denied a murder before the opening credits, they didn't have to wait an hour this week,
And the tally after all the usual shenanigans was three bodies.
Said Midsomer Viewers' Group chair, Nancy Armband: "This is more like it. But we are still of the opinion that we should have at least one slit throat or smashed-in cranium before the opening credits.
"We are pleased. We can see progress."
