Will there be any Agatha Christie on TV this Christmas?
Could there be a festive whodunnit on TV this year?
Is it really Christmastime unless you get some Agatha Christie in your viewing schedule, alongside other festive staples such as the Call the Midwife specials? We would argue no.
We love a good whodunnit here at RadioTimes.com and the Christie stories, normally penned by Sarah Phelps, have been ticking that box since they first aired on the BBC back in 2015. So far, we have seen the likes of And Then There Were None, The Witness for the Prosecution, Ordeal by Innocence, and The ABC Murders, and they have featured stars such as Bill Nighy, Toby Jones and John Malkovich.
The Pale Horse also dropped in 2020 and saw Rufus Sewell take the lead role as determined Mark Easterbrook. Most recently, though, Christie fans have been treated to Why Didn't They Ask Evans, Hugh Laurie's BritBox production which premiered this past April.
So, will this year see the return of some more Christie-related action on our screens? And could there be a surprise Agatha Christie drama for us to unwrap this Christmas?
Is there an Agatha Christie drama on BBC One for Christmas 2022?
Despite all the word about the Gwyneth Hughes adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death Comes as the End, the release date for the new instalment is still yet to be confirmed.
A BBC source previously claimed it “will be a very different proposition from the recent BBC Agatha Christie adaptations," but perhaps its more unusual setting and premise – the story takes place in Ancient Egypt in 2000 BC – has presented difficulties, as the project was announced four years ago but has yet to finalise casting.
In December 2018, the BBC confirmed that Death Comes as the End would be its next Agatha Christie adaptation - and that it was originally due to air the following year.
The historical whodunnit is set in Thebes in Ancient Egypt and sees an Egyptian family rocked when the patriarch, Imhotep, returns with a new concubine who begins to sow seeds of discord.
Given previous COVID delays, it's unsurprising that information for the upcoming series is pretty thin on the ground right now.
What can I watch this Christmas instead?
While we have not spotted any Christie adaptations on the TV schedule this Christmas so far, that does not mean that there are not places to go to get your Agatha fix. Acorn TV, which comes with a seven-day free trial, has numerous specials on there ready to watch.
Or, if you want to watch older versions, such as Poirot or Miss Marple, Britbox has you covered. Let's not forget that recently released Why Didn't They Ask Evans is also available to watch on the streamer, which also has a free trial.
Released this past April, the Hugh Laurie-produced three-part series is adapted from Christie's 1934 novel of the same name. The Revenant's Will Poulter plays young naval officer Bobby Jones, a vicar's son who begins investigating the death of a man who asks the mysterious titular question with his dying breath.
The murder mystery series also stars Lucy Boynton, Game of Thrones star Conleth Hill, I Hate Suzie's Daniel Ings and many other familiar faces. So, while we may not have a brand new Christie release to mark the festive season this year, BritBox is certainly providing us with an updated catalogue of all of our beloved adaptation favourites.
Looking for something to watch? Check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide.
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Authors
Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.
