Two new Agatha Christie TV adaptations

And Then There Were None and Partners in Crime to be adapted for BBC

Source: http://www.agathachristie.com/news/article/new-tv-adaptations

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And Then There Were None and Partners in Crime to be adapted for BBC

We're delighted to announce that BBC1 has commissioned two new Agatha Christie adaptations; Partners in Crime which will feature the sleuthing couple, Tommy and Tuppence, and Christie’s masterpiece And Then There Were None. The dates for the shows haven’t been confirmed yet, but are pencilled in for late 2015 which will be the year of Agatha Christie’s 125th birthday.

Mathew Prichard, Chairman of Agatha Christie Limited and grandson of Agatha Christie said: “It is fantastic that, in her all-important 125th anniversary year, my grandmother is to be welcomed with such enthusiasm to the BBC. The commitment to these productions from all those involved is great to see, and I’ve no doubt will result in compelling new adaptations, to be enjoyed by fans old and new.”

And Then There Were None, Christie’s classic thriller, tells the story of ten individuals invited to an isolated island, where they are killed off one by one by an unknown killer. It’s Christie at her darkest and most sinister and has seen many adaptations in the past. This latest incarnation returns to the dark roots of the story and will be written by Sarah Phelps (Great Expectations, Oliver Twist) and produced by Mammoth Screen (Parade’s End, Endeavour).

Alongside, we’ll also be seeing the return of crime-fighting duo Tommy and Tuppence, in a new series titled Partners in Crime, starring David Walliams as Tommy. This will not be a remake of the 1980s series with James Warwick and Francesca Annis, but a reimagining of the characters and will be a six-part series, set in 1950s Britain. This brand new adaptation will be produced by Endor Productions (The Escape Artist; State of Play) in partnership with Acorn Productions and the first three episodes will be written by award-winning author, playwright and director Zinnie Harris.

This is just the start of some amazing things to come, as Acorn Productions (a subsidiary of RLJ Entertainment) works toward developing Agatha Christie’s stories for a new generation. We’ve already seen the release of the Dead Man’s Folly app (download here, if you’ve not played it yet) and we’re looking forward to the new film of Murder on the Orient Express, to be produced by Ridley Scott.

Hilary Strong, MD of Acorn Productions, said: “We are delighted to unveil these two major new dramas for BBC1. They are an integral part of our plans for the Christie brand and demonstrate the scale of our ambition at Acorn Productions Ltd for the portfolio of works that we own. With Christie’s 125th anniversary next year, we are developing innovative new content on all platforms – publishing, digital and theatre – with new adaptations of her timeless stories.”