Minghella's death won't halt TV series

A TELEVISION series based on novels by Edinburgh author Alexander McCall Smith will still go ahead, despite the shock death of the director.

Anthony Minghella, who struck the deal with Mr McCall Smith to oversee 13 episodes, died at the age of 54 last week following surgery complications.

This led to speculation that the series – which Minghella wanted to become as popular as Inspector Morse – would not see it through to the end.

But Mr McCall Smith, who saw The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency broadcast last night to kick off the series, said he was optimistic it would still go ahead.

He said: "My understanding would be that everything was going to continue, but they need a new overseer.

"There's quite a team of people now and I would have thought that there will be others who will keep the project going."