The BBC’s Cambridge-set comedy drama Ludwig has returned for a second series and now ratings prove it’s a hit
The Cambridge-set BBC comedy drama Ludwig starring David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin has made a triumphant return, as viewing figures have now proved.
The show, which features Mitchell as an accidental detective, has returned for a second season, and millions of fans tuned in for the opening episode.
The drama made its comeback on Thursday, August 20, when fans were quick to rush to social media to share their delight within minutes of the opening credits.
One said on X – formerly Twitter – “Binge watched S1 of #Ludwig Absolutely loving it. S2 here we come. It’s real life Scooby Doo.”
Another added: “Delighted that #Ludwig is back. One of the best new shows in recent years.” While a third commented: “#Ludwig is back. I am so happy.”
Now according to Broadcast, nearly 3 million viewers tuned in for the first episode. Created by Mark Brotherhood, the series stars Mitchell in the dual role of reclusive puzzle maker John Taylor aka Ludwig and his twin, DCI James Taylor, who disappears without a trace in the first episode.
Contacted by James’s wife Lucy Betts-Taylor, played by Anna Maxwell Martin, John agrees to pose as Jack, ending up solving murder cases thanks to his deductive skills, reports Digital Spy.
The new episode featured an unusual double confession at a theatre where John took centre stage as he set out to prove who didn’t commit the crime, reports the Mirror.
Viewing figures show it drew 2.8 million viewers, capturing 28.5% of the TV-watching audience at that time — an improvement on the first season’s debut, which attracted 2.7 million viewers in 2024.
Season 1 went on to become the BBC’s biggest new scripted show since 2022, with 9.5 million viewers discovering it within 28 days. It also claimed the title of the BBC’s highest-rating scripted show of 2024 and the biggest comedy series launch since at least 2018.
As far as Cambridge as a location is concerned, when asked about the show’s setting during a Q&A for season 1, David said: “Yes, I was a student there, and I love Cambridge. I’m delighted that it was set in Cambridge, because I genuinely feel that having a picturesque context is such a key part of the genre.
“Obviously, Inspector Morse – set in Oxford. Miss Marple – set variously in different villages. Poirot and Sherlock Holmes – set in the past, which we all know is more aesthetically pleasing, despite the horrible time people had living through it.”
More recently, ahead of season 2, he said of the city: “I went to university there, and I love it. You want people to enjoy slipping into this world like a pair of slippers, but with a dead body in them. Cambridge is obviously a great candidate for that. Inspector Morse is one of my favourite shows, but that was set in Oxford.
“That’s where people want to escape to in this kind of program. I think you’ve got to have a beautiful setting to juxtapose with the nature of the crimes.”
Ludwig is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
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