First Look At BBC One’s Christmas Crime Special, Murder Is Easy

By Olivia Emily

5 months ago

‘She was talking of murders in her village – and now she’s dead’


A brand new cosy Agatha Christie thriller is airing on BBC One this Twixmas, with an ensemble cast and an intriguing cast to boot. Here’s everything you need to know.

Christmas TV Guide 2023: What To Watch & Stream This Festive Season

First Look: Murder Is Easy

Mammoth Screen, Agatha Christie Limited, BritBox International and the BBC have all joined forces to adapt Agatha Christie’s 1939 detective novel Murder is Easy into a thrilling two-part drama. Adapted by Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre and directed by Meenu Gaur, it’s at the top of our watchlist this season.

What Will Happen?

No Poirot or Miss Marple here: instead, we follow retired police officer Luke Fitzwilliam (David Jonsson). It’s 1954 and he meets Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton) on a train to London. She asks him what time Scotland Yard Closes, for she has a murder to report. There is a killer on the loose in her sleepy English village of Wychwood under Ashe, she tells him. But then she shows up dead.

Now convinced by her claims, Fitzwilliam travels to Wychwood to investigate, where he meets the locals. Everyone believes the deaths were accidents, but Fitzwilliam feels he must find the killer before they can strike again.

Penelope Wilton and David Jonsson in Murder is Easy, coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer

Penelope Wilton and David Jonsson in Murder is Easy, coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer

Who Stars?

Led by David Jonsson as Fitzwilliam – who you might recognise from the heartwarming British rom-com Rye Lane, or the BBC drama Industry – there are plenty of familiar faces in this line up…

  • David Jonsson as Luke Fitzwilliam
  • Penelope Wilton as Miss Pinkerton
  • Morfydd Clark as Bridget
  • Tom Riley as Lord Whitfield
  • Douglas Henshall as Major Horton
  • Mathew Baynton as Dr Thomas
  • Mark Bonnar as Reverend Humbleby
  • Nimra Bucha as Mrs Humbleby
  • Phoebe Licorish as Rose Humbleby
  • Tamzin Outhwaite as Mrs Pierce

Is There A Trailer?

Yes, and you can watch it below.

Release Schedule

Murder is Easy will begin at 9pm on 27 December on BBC One. Episode two will air at the same time the following night.

When Is Murder Is Easy Streaming?

Murder is Easy will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Wednesday 27 December 2023 in the UK.

The two-part drama will stream on BritBox International in the US, Canada and South Africa in 2024.