In one offcComedy thriller Murder By The Book celebrated Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot (Ian Holm) is brought face to face with his creator Agatha Christie (Peggy Ashcroft) when he learns she intends killing him off. Poirot is particularly put out that he is not even going to go out with all guns blazing – instead Christie plans to kill him off with a heart attack. Christie herself is less than impressed with how much Poirot seems to have taken over her life.
An intriguing concept with a pair of great performances from Holm and Ashcroft.
Cast: Peggy Ashcroft as Agatha Christie; Ian Holm as Hercule Poirot; Richard Wilson as Sir Max Mallowan; Michael Aldridge as Edmund Cork; Dawn Archibald as Sally; John Atkinson as Gardener
Writer and Producer: Nick Evans / Executive Producer: Dickie Bamber / Director: Lawrence Gordon Clark
UK / ITV – TVS / 1×60 minutes / 28 August 1986
