‘Murder is Easy’ preview: First look at BBC’s new Agatha Christie mystery

The first promotional images have been released for Murder is Easy!

Based on Agatha Christie‘s 1939 novel of the same name, the upcoming BBC thriller comes from the team behind World on Fire, Victoria, and Endeavour.

The two-part period crime drama is set in 1954, and was filmed in Scotland this summer.

Here’s a sneak peek at Shetland actor Douglas Henshall playing Major Horton:

Henshall quit his long-running role in Shetland last year, but the hit detective show returned to BBC One with a new lead last night.

He’ll be joined in Murder is Easy by a great line-up of familiar faces.

Mathew Baynton from Ghosts is playing Dr Thomas, alongside Scottish actor Mark Bonnar (Guilt, World on Fire) as Reverend Humbleby:

The cast also includes Sinead Matthews (The Crown) as Miss Waynflete, Nimra Bucha (Polite Society) as Mrs Humbleby, Kathryn Howden (River City) as Mrs Carter, Demmy Ladipo (The Last Tree) as Jimmy Amaike, Gloria Obianyo (Good Omens) as Ngozi Ude, Tamzin Outhwaite (Ridley Road) as Mrs Pierce, and Jon Pointing (Plebs) as Rivers, with newcomer Phoebe Licorish playing Rose.

Also look out for Morfydd Clark (Lord of the Rings) and Tom Riley (The Nevers), seen here in character as Bridget and Lord Whitfield:

Leading the cast are Downton Abbey star Penelope Wilton as Miss Pinkerton, and David Jonsson from Rye Lane as Fitzwilliam.

Take a closer look at the pair on a gorgeous old train together here:

The plot kicks off when Fitzwilliam meets Miss Pinkerton on a train to London, and he learns that a killer is on the loose in the sleepy English village of Wychwood under Ashe.

While the villagers believe the deaths to be mere accidents, Miss Pinkerton knows otherwise.

When she’s later found dead on her way to Scotland Yard, Fitzwilliam feels compelled to discover the killer before they can strike again…

Executive producer James Prichard, who also happens to be Agatha Christie’s grandson, previously commented: “The concept of evil lurking in the quintessentially English village is a familiar trope, but what exactly it is that makes murder easy remains to be revealed.”

When’s the release date?

While there’s been no official confirmation yet, Murder is Easy is expected to premiere in the UK this Christmas on BBC One and streaming on BBC iPlayer.

Over in the US, Canada and South Africa, it’ll be streaming on BritBox.

Agatha Christie’s novel Murder is Easy is available on Amazon.