TV Preview: Marple

Award winning actress Julia McKenzie returns as Agatha Christie’s famous sleuth, Miss Marple, for a one-off murder mystery. McKenzie is joined by a stars such as Pauline Collins, Jason Merrells, Nicholas Parsons, Lynda Baron, Holly Valance and Holly Willoughby in a cameo appearance.

The One To Watch: Marple – The Pale Horse. ITV1 at 9pm

Die-hard Agatha Christie fans will quickly realise that the novel The Pale Horse doesn’t feature Miss Marple – instead it feature the character of Ariadne Oliver (played by Zoe Wannamaker in the Poirot adaptations) with appearances from several characters from Christie’s other works – most notably the Poirot novel; Cards on the Table. However, the book has been adapted for ITV’s Marple series with the female sleuth added to the plot.

Miss Marple heads to London to investigate the mysterious death of her friend Father Gorman. Shortly before his death Gorman sent, by post, a list of names to Miss Marple but the priest was murdered shortly after visiting Mrs Davis. DI Lejunne and Surgeon Kerrigan are puzzled by the murder but refuse to accept help from Miss Marple – so she decides to take on the case herself. Her investigations lead her to The Pale Horse Inn and tales of witches being burnt…..

Marple: The Pale Horse stars Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple with Neil Pearson, Pauline Collins, Nicholas Parsons, Lynda Barron, Jason Merrells, Bill Paterson, Holly Valance, Sarah Alexander, JJ Field, Susan Lynch, Nigel Planer, Elizabeth Rider, Jonathan Cake, Amy Manson, Tom Ward, Jenny Galloway and a special cameo appearance by This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby.