For many, the face of Hercule Poirot will forever be that of Sir David Suchet. The actor's definitive portrayal of Agatha Christie's fastidious Belgian detective in the long-running ITV series cemented his place in television history. Yet, despite another major star taking on the role in recent years, Suchet has made a conscious choice to look away.
The Poirot He Won't Watch
In an exclusive new interview, the 79-year-old acting legend has reiterated his longstanding position on Sir Kenneth Branagh's cinematic take on the character. Branagh has headlined three major films as Poirot since 2017, beginning with Murder on the Orient Express, with the series grossing over $600 million worldwide.
Asked if he has finally watched any of Branagh's performances, Suchet was emphatic. "Haven't watched it since," he stated, shaking his head. He elaborated that he does not plan to do so anytime soon. "And I don't think I ever will," he mused, "Until, if God gives me life, many, many years. Until the press don't want to know what I think. And then I'll watch."
Suchet's connection to the character is profound, having completed the entire canon of Poirot stories across 70 episodes from 1989 to 2013. His final case was watched by 5.2 million viewers in the UK, and his tenure is estimated to have reached a staggering 700 million viewers globally.
An Unexpected Legacy and a Night in a Cell
Despite the iconic status he now holds, Suchet never anticipated the success his Poirot would achieve. He was initially hired in 1988 to film just ten short stories. "Didn't have a clue," he admitted when asked if he expected the legacy. After the first shoot, he went home "jobless" and expressed public doubts that his interpretation would be as entertaining as previous actors like Peter Ustinov.
The actor also shared a remarkable anecdote from his early career, long before Poirot. In 1971, aged just 24 or 25, he landed his first major starring role as Scrooge at the Liverpool Playhouse. After a train delay left him locked out of his accommodation with no money, he spent his first night as a lead actor in an unusual place. "I ended up sleeping in a police cell," Suchet revealed. "That was the only place that I could find that would look after me."
A New Chapter with Dickens' Ghosts
Now, Suchet is channelling his renowned vocal talents into a new project that returns him to classic storytelling. He is the narrator for a nine-part podcast series titled Charles Dickens' Ghost Stories, produced by the UK podcast network Noiser.
The series launched on December 1 with A Christmas Carol and will continue with weekly releases of atmospheric tales like The Signal-Man and The Trial for Murder. Suchet, who professes not to be a Dickens expert, said he "couldn't resist this."
"There's a huge emotional depth to [these stories], and that's what makes great writers like Dickens so enduring," he explained. He drew a parallel to Agatha Christie, noting her works are outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare because they explore the full spectrum of the "human condition of love, hate, jealousy, greed, poverty, hardship."
Reflecting philosophically on his most famous role, Suchet acknowledged that many actors will play Poirot after him. "No actor should ever say or feel they own a role. Never," he said. "It's a great privilege to play them, and then we've gotta learn, however hard it may be, to let them go." For now, however, he is keeping a respectful distance from the latest incarnation, preserving his own unique connection to the little detective with the meticulous moustache.
