10 of TV’s strangest head-scratchers

THERE was nothing like it before and, despite numerous attempts, nothing like it since.

Twin Peaks goes down as one of the most influential, compelling and downright weird shows television has ever seen. And now it’s coming back. At first, Twin Peaks appeared to be a typical murder-mystery set in a small town.

The series begins with the discovery of the body of school beauty queen, Laura Palmer.

But its offbeat style, cinematic look, creepy visuals and eccentric and troubled characters, quickly marked it as a trendsetter rather than a follower.

Created by Eraserhead and Blue Velvet director David Lynch and Mark Frost, previously best known for Hill Street Blues, the supernatural soap was the ultimate water cooler serial.

Starring Kyle MacLachlan as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, who is sent to the north-west town to investigate the murder, the first episode was one of the most watched shows of 1990.

Confirmation that this was a programme unlike anything else was given at the end of the third episode, when Cooper had a dream that transported him to a mysterious room with red curtains and a zig-zag patterned floor where a dancing, strangely-spoken dwarf and Laura Palmer talked to him and seemingly revealed her murderer.

Despite only running for 30 episodes – and spawning a prequel film in 1992 – the series has stood the test of time and continues to be discovered by new generations.

But it was still a surprise when David Lynch announced in October 2014 that it would be coming back.

He and co-creator Frost would write and direct the new episodes, and the majority of the original cast were returning – including Sheryl Lee and Ray Wise, whose characters Laura and Leland Palmer were killed off in the original. So far, so typically strange.

The 18-episode revival – set in the present day – begins next Sunday.

British viewers can watch it at the same time as American fans with an early morning screening, with a prime time repeat on Monday evening on Sky Atlantic.

Unusually in this internet age, no plot details or clips have leaked, meaning what comes next is a complete mystery.

We’re willing to bet it’ll be strange, confusing, funny, scary and compelling – like 1990 all over again.