The BBC has released a first-look image and trailer for an upcoming detective murder mystery series centred on three of Britain's most celebrated crime writers. The Detection Club will follow a mysterious society formed by Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and G.K. Chesterton.
The 10-part mystery drama, inspired by the golden age of detective fiction, is set in 1930s London, where the three legendary crime writers come together to hone their craft in a secret London location. As they work to solve their first real murder case and the series of mysteries surrounding it, their amateur sleuthing leads them to a young police detective, D.I. Greenway, who is determined to prove himself despite being out of his depth.
Cast and first reactions
In a first look at the new series, Call The Midwife actress Bryony Hannah stars as Agatha Christie, Napoleon actor Miles Jupp as G.K. Chesterton and Downton Abbey actress Cara Theobold as Dorothy L. Sayers. The cast also includes Viraj Juneja as D.I. Greenway.
As the BBC dropped the first-look trailer, showing the stars in character for the first time, viewers were left saying the same thing. “Oh this looks right up my street,” one wrote. Several others said they “can’t wait” and shared their excitement, as one added: “Argh this looks fab!” Another wrote: “Oh my gosh!! I saw this was coming to britbox first but I’m so excited it’s with the bbc!! Love and am so excited.”
“This has glistened my orb!” another echoed, as someone else wrote: “Omg this looks amazing!!!” Yet another wrote: “Really looking forward to this!”
Hercule Poirot casting
This comes after the BBC dropped a first-look image at another detective character, with Edward Bluemel taking on the role of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. The My Lady Jane actor is taking on David Suchet’s famous role, after he portrayed the famous detective character in the ITV series running from 1989 to 2013.
The BBC has teased Hercule to be “an intimate study of Hercule Poirot the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars”. Fans were left divided over the actor in the first-look image, as he was seen in a classic suit, staring intensely at the camera, hat in hands, with Poirot’s signature moustache. While one called him “perfect”, another said: “Nobody wants an attractive Poirot,” as a third added: “He’s no David Suchet.”
Someone else wrote: “The whole point of Poirot is that he is not conventionally attractive, but I suppose characters must be hot now no matter what.” Yet another echoed: “I could see him being a good Poirot...In 20 years.”
Full cast and release
As well as Edward, who has also held roles in Killing Eve and We Might Regret This, the cast is set to include A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms star Henry Ashton, Oppenheimer actor James D’Arcy, Supacell’s Calvin Demba, Am I Being Unreasonable? star Phil Dunning and House of Guinness actor Jack Gleeson. Riot Women’s Tamsin Greig, James Nesbitt, The Buccaneers actor Guy Remmers, Rebecca Rittenhouse and Mawaan Rizwan will all also feature.
After being announced as the new Poirot, Edward previously shared: “I feel very lucky to have been trusted with such an iconic character who has been played by so many great actors. I can’t wait to continue Hercule’s legacy.”
The Detection Club and Hercule will air on BBC soon.
