Could this ‘Downton Abbey’ star be TV’s new Miss Marple?

It was recently announced that a new Miss Marple series is in development.

Big Little Lies producer Bruna Papandrea has teamed up with Agatha Christie Ltd. to work on a brand new TV series featuring Agatha Christie’s iconic character.

Papandrea commented last month: “Agatha Christie is a true literary legend, and her Marple character at the center of these amazing stories is a complex female heroine providing great entertainment and inspiration. It’s such an exciting opportunity to bring it all to life.”

The first rumours have now emerged about who could be playing the elderly amateur detective and Downton Abbey fans will be very happy if this turns out to be true!

Penelope Wilton is best known to period drama fans as Isobel Crawley in Downton Abbey.

The 72-year-old actress from Yorkshire has also starred in Calendar Girls, Pride & Prejudice, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Wilton previously guest starred in 2010’s Miss Marple episode ‘They Do It with Mirrors’, playing the character of Carrie Louise Serrocold.

Miss Marple appeared in 12 books and 20 short stories written by Agatha Christie, debuting nearly a hundred years ago in 1927’s The Tuesday Night Club.

The stories have been adapted for television previously, most famously with Joan Hickson in the BBC’s series which ran from 1984 to 1992.

The most recent Miss Marple adaptations aired on ITV from 2004 to 2013, starring Geraldine McEwan and later Julia McKenzie.

The new Miss Marple series is expected to premiere in 2020.

The complete Miss Marple DVD collection is available on Amazon.