Cracking drama (From The Northern Echo)

Cracking drama

12:34pm Thursday 24th December 2009

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THE majority view is that Joan Hickson, in the Eighties BBC series, provided viewers with the definitive on-screen spinster sleuth, but Julia McKenzie showed promise in her first two outings – A Pocket Full of Rye and Murder Is Easy.

However, in this case, most eyes will be firmly on Joan Collins, who guest stars as Ruth Van Rydock, a glamorous old friend of Miss Marple’s. She wants her to investigate a mysterious fire that has devastated her sister Carrie’s study. Miss Marple believes it was started deliberately, possibly by somebody who wanted to put an end to Carrie’s philanthropic works. And whoever that is won’t be put off easily. The casts of Christie adaptations are always laden with stars, but this one particularly so. As well as McKenzie and Collins, look out for Penelope Wilton, Brian Cox, Sean Hughes, Ian Ogilvy, Maxine Peake and Alexei Sayle.

■ Agatha Christie’s Marple, ITV1, New Year’s Day, 9pm

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