New Agatha Christie mysteries headed to BBC One


Following up Fridays announcement from Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, that Call the Midwife had been commissioned for a 4th series, comes some equally as brilliant news regarding new Agatha Christie adaptations. Historically, Christie’s two greatest creations, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, have transmitted on ITV in the UK. In announcing the details for the two new productions, Stephenson revealed that BBC One has entered into a deal with Agatha Christie Limited to become the exclusive UK home for new Christie projects. Headlining the 2014-2015 drama slate will be two new Agatha Christie projects, An Then There Were None and Partners in Crime. Transmission of both productions will coincide with the upcoming 125th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s birth in 2015.

And Then There Were None
 
Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None

Based on Agatha Christie’s most-read novel, selling more than 100 million copies, And Then There Were None is described as “timeless, dark and gripping”. The story follows 10 strangers marooned on an island who, one by one, start to die. The drama is being adapted by Sarah Phelps, whose recent TV adaptations of the Charles Dickens novels, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations, aired on both the BBC and PBS. Mammoth Screen are producing in partnership with Acorn Productions Ltd.

Partners In Crime
 
David Walliams headlines upcoming Agatha Christie adaptation of Partners in Crime

Based on the Tommy and Tuppence characters created by Agatha Christie, Partners In Crime follows the husband and wife sleuths in 1950s England as they stumble into a world of undercover agents, mysterious evil masterminds and diabolical political conspiracy. The project has received a six episode order, with the first three episodes being adapted from the Christie novel ‘The Secret Adversary’ and the remaining three episodes being adapted from ‘N Or M?’. David Walliams (Little Britain, Big School, Mr. Stink) has been cast as Tommy in this new series, which is being produced by Endor Productions in partnership with Acorn Productions Ltd.

Don’t know about you, but I’m starting to love these drama wars between BBC and ITV. With PBS and public television stations in the States listed as beneficiary on all the necessary forms, 2014-2015 is already shaping up to be the best yet.


In: Actors/Actresses,Drama