Hercule Poirot in Three Act Tragedy

ITV1 screened Three Act Tragedy, the first episode in the brand new series 12, at 8pm on Sunday 3rd January 2010. It attracted a relatively weak audience of only 4.9 million, a 17% share.

The three other episodes in series 12 are:
- Murder on the Orient Express - presumably ITV delayed filming this because the Albert Finney version is so well known
- Hallowe'en Party and
- The Clocks.

Three Act Tragedy was located in Acapulco for the Peter Ustinov version which may well have slipped from most people's minds by now. The David Suchet version is located in the more authentic settings of Cornwall and Monaco.

Martin Shaw (George Gently, Judge John Deed) starred alongside David Suchet in Three Act Tragedy andplayed the role of Sir Charles Cartwright, a retired actor who relished the opportunity to assist Poirot with his investigations after the death of a guest at his home.

Three Act Tragedy also starred Art Malik (Ben Hur), Kate Ashfield (Collision), Kimberley Nixon (Cranford), Jane Asher (The Palace) and Tom Wisdom (The Boat that Rocked).

When Poirot visited Cornwall to attend a dinner hosted by the retired actor Sir Charles Cartwright, a guest, the local vicar, Reverend Babbington choked to death on his cocktail. Poirot cannot see how murder can have been committed, much to Charles' insistence of foul play.

This episode seemed to have attracted some of the stylised over-acting that has plagued the ITV Marple episodes. Martin Shaw was particularly weak. He is a good actor so I suspect the director is to blame. Let's hope the other episodes in series 12 don't suffer the same fate.

David Suchet - Hercule Poirot
David Yelland - George
Jane Asher - Lady Mary Lytton Gore
Kate Ashfield - Muriel Wills
Suzanne Bertish - Miss Milray
Anna Carteret - Mrs.Babbington
Prue Clarke - Hospital Matron
Anastasia Hille - Cynthia Dacres
Art Malik - Sir Bartholomew Strange
Tony Maudsley - Supt. Crossfield
Jodie McNee - Annie
Kimberley Nixon - Egg Lytton Gore
Nigel Pegram - Rev. Babbington
Martin Shaw - Sir Charles Cartwright
Kimberly Stewart - Doris
Ronan Vibert - Captain Dacres
Tom Wisdom - Oliver Manders