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Poirot recommissioned

Published: Monday, 14 November 2011, 10:25AM

ITV is delighted to announce that David Suchet will return to his role as Hercule Poirot and complete Agatha Christie’s canon of stories about the fastidious and brilliant Belgian detective.

The films, based on the remaining Poirot novels and short stories yet to be filmed, have been commissioned from ITV Studios and Agatha Christie Ltd. 

The Poirot films which will go into production during 2012 are:

Labours of Hercules;
Dead Man’s Folly;
The Big Four;
Elephants Can Remember;
Curtain.

Curtain is Poirot’s last case in which an arthritic and immobilised Poirot calls on his old friend Captain Hastings for assistance as they return to the scene of their first case, Styles Court, to try to prevent an imminent murder. 

David Suchet has often spoken about his ambition to film all the Poirot stories. He has worn the moustachioed Belgian sleuth's polished spats very successfully for 22 years and starred in a total of 65 films including the iconic and best known title Murder on the Orient Express, which broadcast on ITV1 during Christmas 2010. 

The Clocks, the latest Poirot film from ITV, will broadcast this Christmas and will star David, alongside an exciting cast including Phil Daniels as Inspector Hardcastle,  Jaime Winstone, Tom Burke, Lesley Sharp, Geoffrey Palmer and Beatie Edney and the late Anna Massey.
Filmed in London and Dover, The Clocks is adapted by Stewart Harcourt, directed by Charles Palmer and the producer is Karen Thrussell.
After nearly two decades, Poirot continues to rate consistently highly and is sold all around the world to over 40 countries.

"I’m more than delighted to be reprising my role as Poirot.  It’s been my life’s ambition to bring this amazing canon of works to completion on ITV,” said David.  "Poirot is a brilliant, yet profoundly complicated character and I’ve always loved playing him.  He’s considerate, with a love of elegance and precision, but he is also so maddeningly frustrating to play as he’s so vain and pedantic! What endears me to him the most is his endless love of people," added David. "And for all his faults he is one of the greatest listeners in literature.  I’ve been so fortunate to play him.”

The Poirot films have been commissioned for ITV by Drama Commissioning team Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes.

"Poirot is without doubt one of fiction’s finest detectives and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to ITV1 with his refined approach to crime-fighting, "said Laura.  We’re equally delighted that David has agreed to play him in the final Poirot films for the ITV1 audience and immensely privileged to be producing Curtain.”

Damien Timmer says: "The audience’s admiration for the character of Poirot has never faltered since ITV began producing the Christie stories in 1989.  I’m thrilled we can repay this loyalty by producing these films for ITV1.  In keeping with the tradition of Poirot we hope to attract a stellar cast which will make each film unique in the history of television drama.” 

Added Michele Buck: "We can promise the final five Poirot films will be a fitting tribute to a much-loved literary character.  When the ending comes it’ll be very dramatic and incredibly emotional. We’ve been on a remarkable journey with Poirot.”

Mathew Prichard, Chairman of Agatha Christie Limited and Agatha Christie’s grandson said: "It is tremendous to renew our partnership with ITV and David Suchet as Poirot, and these five films will be a magnificent climax to over 20 years of David’s portrayal of Hercule Poirot.”

The Poirot stories are co-produced by ITV Studios, Agatha Christie Ltd, and US network WGBH.  Michele Buck and Damien Timmer, the Joint Managing Directors of leading drama independent Mammoth Screen, makers of forthcoming Inspector Morse prequel Endeavour and Monroe series 2, both for ITV1,  executive produce Poirot on behalf of ITV Studios.  Rebecca Eaton is executive producer for WGBH, with David Suchet as associate producer.  Mathew Prichard will also executive produce the new films on behalf of Agatha Christie Ltd.