No. 1 not so No. 1

I have loved the McCall Smith series of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency but I was somewhat disappointed with the HBO series. It is big budget, well cast, and quite well done but somehow it doesn't work for me. The novels are light and fairly predictable but have a charm that doesn't quite translate in the TV series. I think the TV series is going for obvious broad stroked humour whereas McCall Smith goes in for the light ironic touch. A shame but I'm sure they will be very popular anyway.