Lots Of Cast Announced For BBC Adaptation Of Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder is Easy’
The BBC has announced the cast for the upcoming adaptation of Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder is Easy’ by Mammoth Screen (The Serpent, World on Fire) and Agatha Christie Limited (And Then There Were None, Death on the Nile) for BBC One and iPlayer, in a co-commission with BritBox International.
The extensive cast includes (deep intake of breath…) David Jonsson (Industry, Rye Lane) as Fitzwilliam, alongside Morfydd Clark (Lord of the Rings, Saint Maud) as Bridget; Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey, After Life) as Miss Pinkerton, Sinead Matthews (Hullraisers, The Crown) as Miss Waynflete, Tom Riley (The Nevers, Ill Behaviour) as Lord Whitfield, Douglas Henshall (Shetland, In Plain Sight) as Major Horton, Mathew Baynton (Ghosts, Wonka) as Dr Thomas, Mark Bonnar (World on Fire, Guilt) as Reverend Humbleby, Nimra Bucha (Polite Society, Ms Marvel) as Mrs Humbleby, Tamzin Outhwaite (The Tower, Ridley Road) as Mrs Pierce, Jon Pointing (Big Boys, Plebs) as Rivers, and Phoebe Licorish making her screen debut as Rose.
“Once again my great-grandmother’s stories have attracted some amazing talent,” said James Prichard, executive producer for Agatha Christie Limited. “It is so exciting to see this group of actors embark on the re-telling of this great story. The concept of evil lurking in the quintessentially English village is a familiar trope, but what exactly it is that makes murder easy remains to be revealed.”
If you’re unfamiliar with this particular Agatha Christie story, it takes place in England, in 1954, on a train to London. Fitzwilliam (David Jonsson) meets Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton), who tells him that a killer is on the loose in the sleepy English village of Wychwood under Ashe. The villagers believe the deaths are mere accidents, but Miss Pinkerton knows otherwise – and when she’s later found dead on her way to Scotland Yard, Fitzwilliam feels he must find the killer before they can strike again. Because for a certain kind of person, murder is easy…
The two-part thriller is adapted by Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre and directed by Meenu Gaur (Zinda Bhaag, World on Fire). FIFTH SEASON will handle international sales.
“Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre’s amazing adaptation of Murder is Easy digs into the divides at the heart of post-war English society, and we feel so lucky that the village of Wychwood is going to be brought to life by a dream cast,” adds James Gandhi, executive producer for Mammoth Screen. “With Meenu Gaur at the directing helm and David Jonsson playing the lead, this promises to be a thrilling ride!”
‘Murder is Easy’ is made by Mammoth Screen (part of ITV Studios) and Agatha Christie Limited, and is a co-commission between the BBC and BritBox International. It is adapted by Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, directed by Meenu Gaur and produced by Karen Kelly. The casting directors are Karen Lindsay-Stewart and Emily Jacobs. Executive producers are Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, James Gandhi and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Danielle Scott-Haughton for the BBC, and Reemah Sakaan and Stephen Nye for BritBox International.
“With an intriguing central mystery and a fantastic creative team behind the camera, it’s no surprise that this new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic whodunnit has attracted a who’s who of UK acting talent to bring Murder is Easy to the screen,” said Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. “BBC viewers are in for a treat that will keep them guessing to the very end.”
‘Murder is Easy’ is now filming in Scotland, and will air on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK. BritBox will air the two-episode drama in the US, Canada and South Africa.
