Channel 4 & BritBox Team Up For 'Travels with Agatha with Sir David Suchet'
David Suchet as Hercule Poirot in 'Agatha Christie's Poirot's Series Finale
BBC/PBS
It is a truth universally acknowledged that of the series that debuted on PBS’ Mystery! in the 1980s, three are considered the defining adaptations of iconic British sleuths: Jeremy Brett in Sherlock Holmes, Joan Hickson in Miss Marple, and David Suchet in Poirot, which eventually was rebranded as Agatha Christie’s Poirot after ITV rebooted the Miss Marple series with Geraldine McEwan as Agatha Christie’s Marple. Suchet retired from the little grey cells and the waxed mustaches in 2013, and several actors have stepped into the role since; however, none have come close to hitting the same standard he set. (Looking at you, Kenneth Branagh.)
Moreover, Suchet himself has admitted that while his time as Poirot had come to an end, he still misses the detective who was so instrumental in making his career and who will forever define him in the minds of the public. Having played the role for nearly 25 years and having researched her novels as he starred in them, he is considered one of the world’s foremost Christie authorities. So it’s not that big of a surprise that Channel 4 and BritBox have announced a new documentary series starring Suchet, in which he retraces one of Christie’s most prolonged international travels, a journey that would go on to inspire multiple novels, as she hopscotched around the globe visiting various countries that were at the time still part of the British Empire.
As part of the series announcement, Suchet said, “Having spent a quarter of a century personifying Agatha Christie’s iconic character of Hercule Poirot, I now feel so honored to embark upon a journey around the world, as myself — in the footsteps of possibly the greatest crime writer of all times. I feel that she will be sitting on my shoulders at every moment, urging me on to share her passion for knowledge, travel, archeology, and, of course, mystery.”
Here is the series synopsis:
In Travels with Agatha with Sir David Suchet, the actor will replicate Poirot author Christie’s journey, which spanned former British Empire territories Canada, Hawaii, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia as part of a trade mission. Each episode will feature one of the five countries. Filming will begin this summer, with delivery scheduled for the end of the year.
Suchet will star and narrate, with Catherine Abbott as series producer. Ian Lamarra executive produces for Soho Studios Entertainment with Alan Clements for Two Rivers Media. The series is set to film in the latter half of 2024.
Travels with Agatha with Sir David Suchet will air and stream on Channel 4 in the UK, BritBox in North America and the Nordics, and SBS in Australia. No date has been set for the show's debut, but one would expect it out either around the 2024 holidays or in early 2025.
