BritBox reveals cast for Hugh Laurie’s new Agatha Christie mini-series

The full cast has been announced for BritBox’s upcoming Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? series.

From the makers of Endeavour and World on Fire, the three-part adaptation began filming last week.

Hugh Laurie has written the scripts, based on Agatha Christie’s 1934 story.

The House star is also directing, executive producing, and acting in the show.

Will Poulter (Black Mirror) will play Bobby Jones, the local Vicar’s son, alongside Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody) as his whip-smart friend, socialite Lady Frances “Frankie” Derwent.

The pair end up having a crime-solving adventure after they discover the crumpled body of a dying man who, with his last breath, gasps the cryptic question of the title. Armed only with a photograph of a beautiful young woman found in the dead man’s pocket, these amateur detectives pursue, and are pursued by, the answer to the mystery.

Bobby is described as “an honest and amiable young man,” while Frankie is “a clever and unflappable young woman with a flare for adventure.”

Poulter commented: “I’m deeply honoured to have been given the opportunity to co-lead this project with Lucy and the chance to bring Agatha Christie’s thrilling story to life under Hugh’s direction.”

Boynton added: “I’m so thrilled to be working with Hugh and Will, and on this story from one of my favourite authors. I can’t wait to get started.”

Maeve Dermody (The Secret Garden) will play Moira, the troubled wife of psychiatrist Dr. James Nicholson, who’ll be played by Hugh Laurie.

Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones) as Bobby’s genial mentor, Dr. Alwyn Thomas; Daniel Ings (I Hate Suzie) as Roger Bassington-ffrench (as he explains it: with two small f’s – don’t ask what they stand for); and Jonathan Jules (Small Axe) as Ralph “Knocker” Beadon, a trusted shipmate of Bobby’s who finds himself conscripted into the duo’s caper.

The cast also includes Miles Jupp (The Durrells) as Roger’s brother Henry Bassington-ffrench, a wealthy Englishman with a secret burden; Amy Nuttall (Downton Abbey) as Sylvia Basington-ffrench, the American wife of Henry; and Alistair Petrie (Sex Education) as Bobby’s father, Rev. Richard Jones.

They’ll be joined by Paul Whitehouse (The Personal History of David Copperfield), as the landlord of a country inn; Morwenna Banks (Skins) as Mrs. Cayman, the deceased man’s sister; and Joshua James (Black Mirror) as Frankie’s long-suffering ally, Dr. George Arbuthnot.

Hugh Laurie said earlier this year: “The hairs on the back of my neck haven’t properly settled down from the first time I grasped the beauty of the essential mystery.

“Since then, I have fallen deeper and deeper in love with the characters, and feel immensely honoured to have been given the chance to retell their story in this form.”

Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? will premiere exclusively on BritBox next year.

Poirot: The Complete Cases Collection box set is available on DVD on Amazon.