Fans have been eagerly waiting for the new adaptation of Agatha Christie to be released on September 9th.
The three-part adaptation of the 1934 novel Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? is directed by Hugh Laurie and is a typically confusing Agatha Christie crime story.
It tells the story of Bobby Jones and his celebrity girlfriend Lady Frances Derwent, who discover a man’s dead body while playing golf. The pair then takes it upon themselves to solve the mystery and find the killer.
The miniseries was first shown on Britbox in April 2022, but is finally set to air on TV a full year after it was first released.
The first episode will air on ITV1 on Easter Sunday at 9pm, with the second episode following on Easter Monday April 10 before the third ends on April 11.
Mystery: Fans have been eagerly awaiting the new three-part adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? hits screens on April 9th
The sensational story attracted a slew of names, but who exactly is starring in the highly anticipated crime drama?
LUCY BOYNTON
Lucy Boynton, best known as Mary Austin in the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, takes on a starring role as Lady Frances Derwent.
The 29-year-old actress – who is dating Rami Malek – will try to solve the mystery and find the killer in the tense crime story.
Lucy previously said of her role: “I’m so thrilled to be working with Hugh and Will and on this story by one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to get started.”
It’s not her first Agatha Christie crime novel, having previously starred in Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express in 2017.
Based on the 1934 novel by Hercule Poirot, Lucy starred as Countess Helena Andrenyi in the new adaptation, starring Kenneth Branagh.
Lucy made her acting debut as a young Beatrix Potter in Miss Potter before starring in TV projects Ballet Shoes, Sense and Sensibility and Mo.
Star: Lucy Boynton, best known as Mary Austin in the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, takes on a leading role as Lady Frances Derwent
WILL POULTER
Lucy will star alongside Hollywood actor Will Poulter, who will play her boyfriend Bobby Jones, who will try to help her character solve the murder.
The vicar’s son, Bobby, and childhood Lady Frances are childhood friends who act as Agatha’s sleuths as they become determined to solve the mystery when a man falls off a cliff to his death.
After his role on the series was announced, Will said, “I am deeply honored to have had the opportunity to co-direct this project with Lucy and the chance to bring Agatha Christie’s compelling story to life under Hugh’s direction .”
Will first rose to fame as Eustace Scrubb in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and has since gone on to secure a string of high-profile roles.
He has appeared in the fantasy-adventure franchise The Maze Runner, starred in the comedy We’re The Millers, and most recently starred in the 2021 drama Dopesick.
Will also ventures into the Marvel Universe as he prepares for his much-anticipated MCU debut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
He will star as the golden-haired and skinned Adam Warlock, a powerful artificial being created by the Sovereign to destroy the Guardians.
Starring: Lucy will star alongside Hollywood actor Will Poulter, who will play her boyfriend Bobby Jones, who will try to help her character solve the murder
Career: Will has appeared in the fantasy-adventure franchise The Maze Runner, starred in the comedy We’re The Millers and recently starred in the 2021 drama Dopesick
HUGH LAURIE
In addition to writing and directing the series, multi-talented Hugh, 63, has also had a small role in the three-part adaptation.
He has made cameo appearances alongside the star-studded cast in two episodes as the mysterious Dr. James Nicholson.
Speaking about directing Why Didn’t They Ask Evans, Hugh described it as “a bit like trying to make a Rubik’s Cube while people are throwing hot gravel at your face.”
Hugh recently admitted that fictional Lady Frances Derwent was his “first crush” while speaking to the Chron’s Weekend Magazine about the project.
He said: “She was kind of my dream because she was so much fun. She was spirited, she had a sense of adventure, she was fun and fearless.
“She comes from a privileged background, but she treated every character she met as if they were all in this together. I liked that and rediscovered the crush while writing the story.
“Every week we see an old detective on TV working on his latest case, but with these two we have characters whose innocence and courage are part of their advantage. They’re not cynical, they’re smart and quick-witted.
“The charm of the story is watching heroes form. do they fall in love Or have you always been in love but just didn’t know it?
“I think that’s more likely, and they were the only two who didn’t realize it until the end of the adventure.”
Impressive: In addition to writing and directing the series, multi-talented Hugh, 63, also has a small role in the three-part adaptation
Directing Responsibilities: He has appeared in two episodes alongside the star-studded cast as the mysterious Dr. James Nicholson
In a statement, he also said of Agatha’s literary work: “The hairs on the back of my neck have not properly settled since I first grasped the beauty of the essential mystery.
“I’ve fallen in love with the characters ever since and am honored to have had the opportunity to retell their story in this form.
“I’ll wear a tie on set and give everything I have.”
Hugh is no stranger to thrillers, having previously starred in the gripping drama The Night Manager as villain Richard Roper opposite Tom Hiddleston.
He is arguably best known for being one half of comedy act Fry and Laurie and appearing in classic sitcom Black Adder, while also starring in popular medical drama House.
EMMA THOMPSON
British acting legend Emma Thompson has also signed on for the miniseries to play Lady Marcham.
She only has a small role on the show, making a cameo appearance alongside The Borrowers star Jim Broadbent.
Emma was likely drawn into the show through her close friend Hugh, with whom she starred on Sense and Sensibility.
Emma previously revealed that she dated Hugh when they were at Cambridge University together and they have remained close over the years.
She previously joked about their romance: “He rowed at the Oxford and Cambridge boat races. He was huge and ate steak all the time.’
Hugh also gave a moving speech when Emma received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
Cameos: British acting legend Emma Thompson has also signed on for the miniseries to play Lady Marcham (she is pictured in a scene with Hugh, Lucy and Jim Broadbent).
Friends: Emma was likely drawn into the show through her close friend Hugh (both pictured in 2020) whom she met at university and with whom she starred in Sense and Sensibility
He gushed, “Everything she did was oozing with talent. She said talented things, she wore talented clothes, she rode a talented bike, she made talented spaghetti. She is a truly remarkable person, a very good friend and I couldn’t be prouder.”
BAFTA-winning star Emma has starred in a number of cult films including Nanny McPhee, Love Actually, Men In Black, Johnny English and the Harry Potter franchise.
She recently played the impressive headmistress Miss Trunchbull in Tim Minchin’s Matilda The Musical and was nominated for BAFTA Best Actress for Good Luck to You, Leo Grande.
REST OF THE CAST
The star cast also includes Daniel Ings, best known for his roles in ‘I Hate Suzie’, ‘Lovesick’ (2014) and brand new BBC drama ‘The Gold’.
He stars as Roger Bassington-ffrench in the classic Agatha Christie crime thriller and will appear in all three episodes of the miniseries.
Appearance: The star-studded cast also includes Daniel Ings, best known for his roles in ‘I Hate Suzie’, ‘Lovesick’ (2014) and brand new BBC drama ‘The Gold’
Drama: Meanwhile, Richard Dixon takes on the role of Leo Cayman (pictured) and Alistair Petrie portrays the Rev. Richard Jones
Meanwhile, Richard Dixon takes on the role of Leo Cayman and Alistair Petrie portrays Rev. Richard Jones.
Conleth Hill, who appeared as Varys in Game of Thrones, is also in the cast as Dr. to see Alwyn Thomas.
The 58-year-old actor is also known for his role in Doctor Who, while he recently portrayed the main character in an adaptation of Graham Norton’s novel Holding.
Roles in the crime series also include Maeve Dermody, Jonathan Jules, Miles Jupp, Paul Whitehouse and Joshua James.