There’s something mesmerising about the BBC’s ability to deliver great mysteries on the small screen, and in the upcoming adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Witness For The Prosecution, it looks like BBC 1 is going all-out to create another classic. With an impressive cast and the directorial skills of Julian Jarrold (Kinky Boots) behind it, we should be getting a thrill ride of suspense, all wrapped up in the comfortable, loving embrace of Mum doing Agatha, only she knows how.
Air date
While no air date has been confirmed for the production as of yet, filming is underway, which is a pretty good indication that it will be arriving in the not-so-distant future, with the possibility of either Christmas or New Year viewing in mind. With such a big scale production, the Beeb will probably be saving it for a special occasion to air the two-part Christie drama. It also reunites the team behind the BBC’s production of And Then There Were None which aired in December 2015, so that also points towards a wintery transmission for the adaptation of The Witness For The Prosecution.
Story
Murder strikes down a well-to-do townhouse in the heart of London in the 1920s, but as ever the question is who is behind the fatal deed. In the courts the truth must be found and it’s left to solicitor John Mayhew to defend the prime suspect, Leonard Vole, in a case that on the face of things appears to be an open and shut case.
Vole is the sole benefactor of the large fortune left behind by aging, but glamorous heiress Emily French, which puts him firmly in the frame. If motive one isn’t enough to mount the pressure to send him down, there’s also the statement from French’s housekeeper Janet McIntyre, corroborating the story that he committed the murder. All that stands between Vole and certain incarceration is Mayhew and King’s Counsel, Sir Charles Carter KC, but as ever with Agatha Christie, it’ll all come out in the cross examination.
Cast
It’s a pretty impressive cast that has been drawn together by the BBC for The Witness For The Prosecution with Toby Jones (Sherlock Series 4) leading the production as John Mayhew and Kim Cattrall (Mannequin, Sex And The City) starring as the murdered heiress, Emily French. They’re joined by Andrea Riseborough (Birdman), who stars as Vole’s partner, chorus girl Romaine, as well as David Haig (Four Weddings And A Funeral) as Carter KC, and Monica Dolan (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa) as McIntyre. The cast is completed by Billy Howle (The Sense Of An Ending), who plays chief suspect, Leonard Vole.
Production
Julian Jarrold directs the Sarah Phelps adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic 23-page short story, which was originally published as Traitor Hands in Flynn’s Weekly back in 1925. Colin Wratten is the producer for the two-part drama and the executive producers are James Prichard and Hilary Strong for Agatha Christie Productions, Karen Thrussell and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Matthew Read for BBC and Sarah Phelps.
First impressions
Toby Jones is a bit hit and miss with the recent BBC production of The Secret Agent struggling to hit the right chord, but with his casting in Sherlock Series 4, we’re hopeful that he can get back to form here. With both Kim Cattrall and Andrea Riseborough in the cast for The Witness For The Prosecution, there should be more than enough support to ensure that it’s not all down to Toby’s performance.
