The BBC is tipped to be producing a major new television adaptation of Agatha Christie's beloved Poirot mysteries.
The broadcaster is said to have secured the rights following a competitive bidding process for the drama, Deadline reports.
Reports indicate the corporation has made a substantial commitment to the project, with plans for the series to potentially span up to three seasons over the coming years.
Viewers can expect the Belgian detective to return to screens during the latter half of 2027.
The news comes 13 years after David Suchet's acclaimed ITV portrayal of Poirot
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GB News has contacted the BBC over the reports.
The news comes 13 years after David Suchet's acclaimed ITV portrayal of the moustachioed sleuth concluded its 24-year run in 2013.
Benji Walters has been tapped to handle the adaptation duties for the new series, bringing experience from projects including ITV's Code of Silence, Netflix's Obsession, The Leopard and BBC's Noughts & Crosses.
The hunt for an actor to step into Poirot's immaculately polished shoes is currently ongoing, with no casting announcements yet made.
The BBC is tipped to be recreating Poirot
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For a generation of television viewers, Mr Suchet's interpretation of the fastidious detective remains the gold standard.
His ITV series Agatha Christie's Poirot ran from 1989 to 2013, becoming a fixture of British television over its lengthy broadcast history.
The prospect of anyone else donning the famous moustache has already provoked strong reactions from devoted fans of the original adaptation.
Reaction on social media has been overwhelmingly hostile to the announcement, with many viewers insisting the role should remain untouched.
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ITV's Poirot ran from 1989 to 2013
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"Pointless. David Suchet IS Poirot, much as Joan Hickson was Miss Marple. Concentrate on the other Christie stories instead, there are enough of them," wrote one user on X.
Another declared simply: "Nobody can match David Suchet!!"
Someone else echoed this, writing: "David Suchet is/was the definite Poirot. It needs no remake."
Several commenters questioned the necessity of revisiting the character at all, with one writing: "Why? The David Suchet version was superb! There are plenty of novels by writers living and dead that the BBC could and should be bringing to the screen instead."
Others were more blunt in their assessment, with responses including "Lord help us. It will flop," and "No. Just N.O. Go adapt something else."
One viewer offered a more constructive suggestion: "I'd love for a Belgian actor to be cast."
While Mr Suchet's portrayal looms large in the public imagination, numerous other performers have tackled the role across various mediums over the decades.
Albert Finney, Sir Peter Ustinov and Sir Kenneth Branagh have all brought the detective to life on the big screen, while John Malkovich, Alfred Molina and Peter Dinklage have portrayed him in television and audio productions.
The production team is keeping script and storyline details firmly under wraps for the time being.
However, those behind the project have no shortage of material to draw upon, with Christie having featured her famous creation in 33 novels and 51 short stories throughout her prolific career.
Which of these mysteries will form the basis of the new adaptation remains to be seen.