I hated the books and the original series from the 1970/1980s but the new series on BBC1 with Mark Williams is brilliant. It is funny and fresh and I never miss it.
the books are tiresome, always getting in digs at Protestants and atheists among the Catholic propaganda. I used to like Kenneth More in the role, but somehow the latest guy always seems big and bulky, which he shouldn't be - but I've only seen a couple so perhaps I need to immerse myself more.