The Trailer for Agatha Christie's 'Towards Zero' Scores One for Murder

Ever since the early 1980s BBC debut of Miss Marple, starring Agatha Christie's handpicked star Joan Hickson in the titular role, adaptations of the celebrated English author have been a reliable ratings draw. The BBC's Partners in Crime followed in the mid-1980s before ITV struck gold with David Suchet in Poirot and remaking Marple and Partners in Crime. However, since ITV's three series concluded, it's the BBC that's returned to the Christie well, first with its Sarah Phelps-penned run of miniseries, and now its latest set, done in conjunction with BritBox, the newest of which is Towards Zero.

The first of the new series, Why Didn't They Ask Evans? was spectacularly done, but sadly, BritBox's low profile caused it to tank in the U.S., despite starring Hugh Laurie (who most U.S. viewers still think is an American actor due to House) and Marvel star Will Poulter. The second one, Murder is Easy, starring Industry's David Jonsson and Lord of the Rings' Morfydd Clark, did better partly because it took genuine risks in its adaptation, and BritBox was finally expanding its audience base. Murder is Easy also debuted over the holidays in the U.K., giving it a lot of momentum as it headed across the pond.

The newest installment, Towards Zero, once again has topline actors that both Americans and Brits will easily recognize (in fact, the leading four are split nicely between two America-born but might-as-well-be-British actors and two British-born but might-as-well-be-American actors.

Here's the series synopsis:

England, 1936. After a scandalous celebrity divorce, Nevile Strange and his ex-wife Audrey make the unthinkable decision to spend a summer together at Gull’s Point, their childhood home and the coastal estate of Nevile's aunt, Lady Tressilian.

With unfinished business between the former childhood sweethearts, plus the presence of Nevile’s new wife Kay, tensions are running high. Add to this a long-suffering lady’s companion, a mysterious gentleman’s valet, an exiled cousin with a grudge, a venerable family lawyer, an inquisitive orphan and a French con man, and soon there will be murder. A troubled detective must rediscover his purpose to untangle a toxic web of jealousy, deceit and dysfunction. Can he solve the crime before another victim meets their death?

An explosive love triangle, a formidable matriarch and a house party of enemies. All compelled… Towards Zero.

Towards Zero stars American-born (but might as well be British) actors Anjelica Huston (The Golden Bowl) and Clarke Peters (His Dark Materials), and British-born (but might as well be American) Matthew Rhys (The Americans) and Jack Farthing (Poldark). The four are joined by a supporting cast that includes Jackie Clune (Marriage), Grace Doherty (Call the Midwife), Khalil Gharbia (Mary & George), Adam Hugill (Sherwood), Ella Lily Hyland (Black Doves), Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Mr. Malcolm’sHere’s List), Mimi Keene (Sex Education), and Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts).

Writer Rachel Bennette adapted Christie’s novel for the screen, director Sam Yates helms all three installments, and Rebecca Durbin produces. Executive producers are James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, Sheena Bucktowonsing and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Danielle Scott-Haughton for the BBC, and Jon Farrar, Stephen Nye, and Robert Schildhouse for BritBox International.

Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero debuts on the BBC on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 9 p.m. BT and will air on a weekly schedule through the end of the month. The series will follow on BritBox later in 2025.