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| ©ITV - from left: Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon, Philip Jackson as Assistant Commissioner Japp, David Suchet as Hercule Poirot and Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings |
Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson and Pauline Moran are reunited with David Suchet for the final season of Poirot. The Big Four was broadcast in the UK on 23rd October 2013, but fans of Poirot in the US have had to wait a little longer to say "Adieu" to the famous Belgian detective. The wait is finally over, as on Monday, they can watch the season premiere.
The thirteenth and final season starts with a bang, as Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser), Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran) and Chief Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson) are reunited after many years apart for the funeral of their much loved friend Hercule Poirot. It has been twelve years Poirot has seen his old friends, as they last appeared alongside him in the 2002 episode Evil Under the Sun.
The episode was adapted by Mark Gatiss and Ian Hallard, produced by David Boulter and directed by Peter Lyndon.
ITV Plot description
The world stands on the edge of an abyss as the outbreak of World War II grows ever closer…
In an effort to demonstrate international
unity, the Peace Party hosts a grand reception, which re-unites Poirot
(David Suchet) with his good friend Japp (Philip Jackson), now Assistant
Commissioner of the Met. The illustrious crowd also includes English
diplomat Stephen Paynter (Steven Pacey), and the French scientist and
Peace Party stalwart, Madame Olivier (Patricia Hodge). The American
tycoon, and hearty backer of the Party, Abe Ryland (James Carroll
Jordan), fronts the event, which climaxes in an exciting game of chess,
where he takes on the reclusive Russian Grandmaster, Dr Ivan Savaranoff
(Michael Culkin).
But the match has barely begun, when
suddenly Savaranoff collapses - dead! Panic quickly spreads when Ryland
suspiciously disappears. Daily Comet journalist, Tysoe (Tom Brooke),
covers every development in great, sensational detail, claiming the
murder to be the work of a group of ruthless political agitators, tagged
as the ‘The Big Four’.
Then when Jonathan Whalley (Peter
Symonds), the biographer of the Peace Party’s Chinese leader, is also
strangely and brutally murdered, the Big Four have the attention of
Hercule Poirot and the world.
Tysoe is keen to join forces with Poirot,
an anonymous source has been feeding the journalist information on the
Big Four, apparently a mole from within. Poirot and Japp decide to pool
resources with him when it appears that his informer is murdered –
leaving behind evidence, which suggests this dissident and dangerous
group is in fact none other than the Peace Party! A theory only
reinforced by the disappearances of Ryland, and then Madame Olivier,
shortly after the murder of unassuming conciliator Paynter.
Poirot realises that each of these crimes
is so dramatic and expertly stage-managed as to be almost theatrical…
and the murderer must indeed be a master of disguise in order to pull
off such varied and ingenious plans. Through a scrapbook found at
Whalley’s house, he tracks down failing actress Flossie Monro (Sarah
Parish), whom he believes may unwittingly be at the root of all this
bloodshed. However, before he can pursue his theories, Poirot himself
is also killed! Or is he?
Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) and Miss
Lemon (Pauline Moran) return for the funeral of their old friend, but of
course things are never as they seem, and soon the theatrics of the Big
Four climax with a deadly final act – but on whom will the curtain fall
this time?
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| ©ITV |
Hercule Poirot - David Suchet
Captain Arthur Hastings - Hugh Fraser
Assistant Commissioner Japp - Philip Jackson
Miss Felicity Lemon - Pauline Moran
Madame Olivier - Patricia Hodge
Flossie Monro - Sarah Parish
Inspector Meadows - Nicholas Burns
Tysoe - Tom Brooke
Dr Quentin - Simon Lowe
Abe Ryland - James Carroll Jordan
Stephen Paynter - Steven Pacey
Diana Paynter - Teresa Banham
Gerald Paynter - Jack Farthing
Dr Ivan Savaranoff - Michael Culkin
Mr Ingles - Nick Day
George - David Yelland
Mabel - Lou Broadbent
Mrs Andrews - Barbara Kirby
Robert Grant - Alex Palmer
Jonathan Whalley - Peter Symonds
Mercutio - Ian Hallard
On being reunited with Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran and Philip Jackson, David Suchet said, "It was such a treat for me and I know for them. For all of us to be on the same set together after such a long break was wonderful. It was as though we had never been separated."
Philip Jackson said, "It was good to see the characters reunited. Hugh Fraser and I see each other a lot socially but it was nice to work with David Suchet and Pauline Moran again. I think from a fan's point of view they will be very happy and delighted the characters have come back together."
Pauline Moran said, "After Philip and Hugh and I did Evil Under the Sun we were shown the door and they didn't include us in the storylines. I've mixed feelings about that. But I'm pleased they've caught up with us in this final series, and given the chance to say goodbye to those characters. For us, when we get back on set, it was as if we'd never been away."
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