Blast from the Past: Angela Lansbury was a star in Murder, She Wrote

Many of us were been saddened by the recent death of actress Angela Lansbury at 96. She was a prolific actress, with a wide range of roles, but perhaps she is most fondly remembered for her role as Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote, the bicycle-riding widow and former schoolteacher-turned-mystery writer who became an amateur sleuth in small town Maine.

When Jessica Fletcher appeared in Cabot Cove, the pretty town of clapboard houses and picture perfect harbour, viewers could be guaranteed a murder!

In fact, two per cent of Cabot Cove residents met a grisly end during the show’s 12-year run, with the murder rate for visitors even higher. Just as well it was fictional.

The appeal of Murder, She Wrote lay was undoubtedly Lansbury’s portrayal of Fletcher. She radiated a good-humoured charm, with a comforting, grandmotherly demeanour.

It was a show which always seemed to be on when you were off school or work sick. Lying on the sofa, watching twinkly-eyed Fletcher, her hair ‘done’ to perfection, wearing her sensible shoes and sleuthing glasses, was like drinking a lovely warm mug of cocoa. Soothing and slightly indulgent.

As a non-professional detective Fletcher was par excellence, unmasking the baddie within 40 minutes (not including ad breaks).

Murder, She Wrote belongs to that genre of cosy TV crime shows like Columbo and Hart to Hart, where good always overcomes evil. The format never changed and thank goodness for that.