Portrayed on previous occasions by such actresses as Margaret Rutherford, Helen Hayes, Angela Lansbury, and Joan Hickson, Agatha Christie's indomitable amateur sleuth Miss Jane Marple reappeared in the form of Geraldine McEwan on this TV series, produced for the United Kingdom's ITV1. Endeavoring to be totally faithful to the original source material, the series offered as its first four episodes lavish adaptations of the Agatha Christie novels The Vicarage (1930), The Body in the Library (1942), A Murder is Announced (1950), and 4:50 From Paddington (1957). These episodes were originally complemented by a behind-the-scenes documentary, which has been included in the American TV syndication package. Agatha Christie's Marple made its first television appearance on December 12, 2004. In the United States, the series was initially broadcast on PBS in the summer of 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The episodes (that have been adapted from the original novels and the screenplays) have been written by Kevin Elyot, Stephen Churchett, Stewart Harcourt, Tom MacRae, Patrick Barlow and Paul Rutman.
Anna Rawlins (as Beatrice) Robin Soans (as Dr. Haydock)
Mary Stockley (as Josie Turner)
Zoe Thorne (as Florence) Emma Williams (as Ruby Keene)
Steven Williams (as Peter Carmody) David Walliams (as George Bartlett) Tara Fitzgerald (as Adelaide Jefferson)
Jenny Agutter (as Agnes Crackenthorpe) Rob Brydon (as Inspector Awdry)
Tasha Bertham (as Olga)
Charlie Creed-Mills (as Harold Crackenthorpe) Ben Daniels (as Alfred Crackenthorpe) Rose Keegan (as Lady Alice) Michael Landes (as Bryan Eastley)
David Warner (as Luther Crackenthorpe)
Meritxell Lavanchy (as Anna Stravinska) Toby Marlow (as James Stoddard-West) Neve McIntosh (as Lady Stoddard-West) Ciarán McMenamin (as Cedric Crackenthorpe)
Kurtis O'Brien (as Alexander Eastley)
Tim Stern (as Steward) Pip Torrens (as Noel Coward)
Vincent Leigh (as Jim Tutt) Geraldine Chaplin (as Mrs. Fane) Russ Abbot (as CI Arthur Primer) Harriet Walter (as the Duchess of Malfi)
Emilio Doorgasingh (as Sergeant Desai) Aidan McArdle (as Hugh Hornbeam)
Darren Carnall (as Dresser)
James Howard (as 1891 Hotel Doorman) Adam Smethurst (as Cab Driver) Tony Bignell (as Newsboy)
Shenton Dixon (as Louis Armstrong)
Sarah London (as Miss Tibbs)
Georgia Allen (as Mrs. Rice)
Rose Heiney (as Gladys Martin) Ken Campbell (as Mr. Crump)
Thea Collings (as Tilly) Edward Tudor-Pole (as Professor Bernsdorrf) Paul Brooke (as Billingsley) Chris Larkin (as Gerald Wright)
Rachel Atkins (as Sanatorium Sister)
Hannah Murray (as Dorothy Savage)
Freddie Fox (as Tom Savage)
Basher Savage (as Young George Savage)
Sarah Ridgeway (as Young Sylvia Savage)
Rupert Savage (as Young Jack Savage)
Marple has been aired in the United States on PBS on Mystery! as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and in Canada on CBC and in French on Radio-Canada. In Australia, Marple airs as Miss Marple or simple Marple on ABC1. Marple is also being broadcast on ATV World in Hong Kong. Marple has been broadcast on the Hallmark Channel in Israel. Marple has been shown in South Korea in EBS, and currently is viewed by many audience from MegaTV. In Southern Africa it was shown on Hallmark Channel on the Satellite service DStv.
Controversy
The show has sparked controversy with some viewers for its adaptations of the novels. The first episode, The Body in the Library, changed the identity of one of the killers and introduced lesbianism into the plot; the second episode explored Miss Marple's earlier life; the third episode contained a motive change and the fourth episode cut several characters and added affairs into the story and emphasized a lesbian subplot that was quite discreet in the original novel. The second series also saw some changes. By the Pricking of My Thumbs was originally a Tommy and Tuppence story, while The Sittaford Mystery was also not originally a Miss Marple book and the identity of the killer was changed. The third series has two adaptations that were not originally Miss Marple books: Towards Zero and Ordeal by Innocence. The fourth series continues the trend with Murder is Easy and Why Didn't They Ask Evans?. The fifth series does the same, with The Secret of Chimneys.
DVD releases
The first series of Marple was released in 2005 in the UK, followed by the second series in 2006. The third series was released in autumn 2007 in the US, but its UK release was delayed due to ITV1's decision to defer airing the final instalment.
Series One was released as four individual DVDs and as a "bundle" in Australia (Region 4) with Series Two released on 1 August 2007. The third series was released individually in April 2008.
Series Four will be released in Region 1 on 4 August 2009 after the conclusion of the broadcast on PBS Mystery!
