First Broadcast: Jan 1989
Stars: David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson and Pauline Moran
Adapted by: David Renwick and Michael Baker (based on Agatha Christie’s novels and short stories)
The low down: David Suchet stars as everyone’s favourite ‘tached Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot in this award-winning period crime drama series set in the 1930s.
Whether he’s on holiday abroad, taking a countryside break or simply going about his business near his central London home, Poirot finds himself exercising his “little grey cells” by helping police investigate crimes and murders, whether they ask for his help or not.
He’s often accompanied by his trusty sidekick Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser), and their paths cross Scotland Yard's Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson) who has a grudging respect for the meticulous, if eccentric, private detective.
The drama is a charming and glamorous depiction of the middle and upper classes of the 1930s, through the elegant costumes, settings and locations.
Memorable moments:
In How Does Your Garden Grow? (season three), Poirot becomes the centre of attention at the Chelsea Flower Show, when a new rose is named after him.
Death On the Nile (season nine) features an all-star cast, including James Fox (as Colonel Race), Emily Blunt (Linnet Doyle), Daisy Donovan (Cornelia Robson), and David Soul.
Trivia:
In an earlier 1985 TV version of Thirteen to Dinner, Suchet played the role of Inspector Japp, with Peter Ustinov as Poirot.
Agatha Christie’s granddaughter Rosie Hicks reportedly recommended Suchet for the role of Poirot in the ITV production, after watching him in the 1985 comedy drama, Blott On The Landscape.
David Suchet’s brother is the ITV newscaster, John Suchet and appeared as Poirot in a video message at John’s ITV News leaving party. He apologised for ‘not being able to make it’ and then promptly surprised him by turning up.
Actor Rupert Penry-Jones wore a wig in the dramatisation of the Sad Cypress, as he had shaved his head for a play he was in. But Poirot’s producers were so keen to have him for the part of Roddy Winter, they had a wig made for him especially.
Poirot was the only fictional character to have an obit in the New York Times. It was to mark Christie’s publication of his last fictional outing, in Curtain, on 6 August 1975.
Poirot novels and short stories yet to be made into ITV dramas:
Mrs McGinty's Dead
Dead Man's Folly
Appointment with Death
Three Act Tragedy
Murder on the Orient Express
The Labours of Hercules
Poirot’s Early Cases
