Exclusive: Ludwig star shares surprising moment she knew BBC series was a hit: ‘I was peeking through windows"

Ludwig, BBC's comedy-detective drama starring David Mitchell, has been an undeniable smash for the channel since it debuted in 2024, raking in millions of views and praise from critics.

Mitchell plays reclusive John Taylor, a puzzle book creator who uses the pseudonym "Ludwig", and finds himself drawn into the mysterious disappearance of his identical twin brother, Cambridge Police DCI James, with John using his deciphering skills to solve a series of puzzles left behind by James.

Izuka Hoyle, who starred in the first series as DS Alice Finch, spoke exclusively to Digital Spy about the moment she knew the show was a success: "I remember when the first season came out and I actually remember walking down my street," she began.

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"I'd been to the gym and it was like a cold October night, and I was walking back to my house and…I love looking through [the windows of] rich people's houses when they dare leave the curtains open.

"I was peeking and I saw, as I started to walk down, for every second house, my face was on their televisions because they were all watching Ludwig and I was like, 'Wow, what?'

"And it was just a little moment that I had to myself, which now obviously will no longer be just for me but I remember seeing that and I was like, ‘Wow, I've never had that before.’

"I've also never stared in people's houses that much but I was like, 'Gosh, cool. How lovely. How sweet to see'.

"I had to look to see and it’d be like at least three people huddled up just watching it and I went, ‘Well, if that's not making it, I don't know what is.’"

Related: Ludwig season 3, confirmed! Here's all we know about the return of the BBC's hit detective series

Unfortunately, Hoyle wasn't able to return for series 2, but with a third series recently greenlit and a Christmas special announced, would she consider a return further down the road?

"Oh, yeah. If I could make it I'd be there but, truly, just love to them. It was such a sweet experience and it's such a beautiful, beautiful show."

Ludwig seasons 1-2 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. A third season is in production.

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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since.  For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing.  She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.