LONDON – NHK Japan will air the all-new series of primetime dramas Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Agatha Christie’s Marple on its premium HD service next year, the broadcaster said Monday.
NHK has picked up a total of 12 murder-themed TV movies, which feature ensemble casts made up of some of British TV’s favorite stars including Hugh Bonneville, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dame Eileen Atkins, Amanda Holden, John Hannah, as well as David Suchet as Poirot and Julia McKenzie – and previously Geraldine James – as Miss Marple.
The deal was struck by ITV Studios Global Entertainment and NHK. The ITV Studios/WGBH -produced whodunit series is part of a long tradition of Christie productions at ITV, which aired the original Poirot series (also starring David Suchet) in the late nineties.
Scheduled to air on the NHK BS-Premium, it will be broadcast on the high definition-only satellite channel in 2012,
Augustus Dulgaro, ITV Studios svp Pacific, commented: “This renewed deal with Japan’s main broadcaster is a fantastic example of the continued demand for high-quality U.K.-produced drama in Asia.”
The series has proved one of the broadcasters most popular exports, selling altogether in 200 territories.
ITV1 and ITV Studios recently announced that Agatha Christie’s Marple has been re-commissioned for a further three films and that production will commence on the remaining Poirot novels and short stories next year.
