One for ze little grey cells… who will be TV's next Poirot?

By OLIVIA KEMP, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER Published: 23:21, 21 May 2026 | Updated: 23:23, 21 May 2026 It is a mystery worthy of Agatha Christie – which actor is likely to take on the role of her most famous detective? So far, there have been few clues as the BBC searches for the next Hercule Poirot. And it won’t be a simple role to crack because it is so closely associated with David Suchet who played the detective in the ITV series Agatha Christie’s Poirot from 1989 until June 2013. Other actors to sport the waxed moustache, immaculately polished shoes and three-piece suit for film and television include the late Peter Ustinov and Albert Finney while Sir Kenneth Branagh, 65, has fronted a trio of big-screen adaptations – Murder On The Orient Express (2017), Death On The Nile (2022) and A Haunting In Venice (2023). The revival marks the first Poirot television series since John Malkovich, 72, portrayed him in 2018 in the BBC’s three-part adaptation of The ABC Murders. Now the BBC has secured the rights to a major new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s beloved novels following a fierce bidding war with other broadcasters and streamers. According to industry publication Deadline, the first series is expected to air in the second half of next year. The role became almost inseparable from Suchet, now 80, whose portrayal across 70 episodes remains, for many fans, the definitive incarnation of Ms Christie’s eccentric investigator. David Suchet played Agatha Christie's Belgian detective from 1989 to 2013 Poirot appeared in 33 of her novels, two of her plays and 51 short stories published between 1920 and 1975. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.