What To Know
- BritBox’s upcoming series Tommy & Tuppence reimagines Agatha Christie’s beloved detective duo in a contemporary setting.
- The show departs from traditional retellings by blending elements from Christie’s books into a modern story.
- This adaptation introduces a romantic twist.
Two of Agatha Christie‘s most iconic characters are about to get a modern makeover. Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence reimagines the legendary author’s adventurous amateur sleuths for a contemporary audience for the first time, as the crime-solving duo prepares to make its debut on BritBox on September 15.
One of the challenges of stepping into Agatha Christie’s world is that some characters arrive with decades of cultural recognition attached to them. But for Tommy and Tuppence stars Josh Dylan and Antonia Thomas, the appeal wasn’t necessarily tied to the pair’s literary legacy. When speaking to TV Insider at the ATX TV Festival, Thomas even admitted that, before landing the role, she was far more familiar with Christie’s other famous creations.
“In all honesty, no. I feel like some of Agatha Christie’s other stories were more prominent in my mind. Poirot, Miss Marple…. but like, it’s been really exciting getting to know them through this,” admitted Thomas. “There is a lot of excitement around these characters. They are special in her universe.”
“I heard, and this might be wrong, a rumor that Tommy and Tuppence were Agatha Christie’s favorite characters,” said Dylan. “I also might be creating that rumor. It’s a mystery.”
Of course, bringing Tommy and Tuppence into the 21st century meant more than simply casting new actors. Rather than delivering a traditional retelling of Christie’s stories, the series reimagines the characters for a modern world for the first time.
“It’s a completely modern story,” explained Thomas. “I think Phoebe [Eclair-Powell], the writer, took inspiration from the period characters. She’s sort of taken bits and pieces from all of the books to create a very modern story. It’s not a completely traditional retelling.”
“The foundation, its roots are in the world of books,” said Dylan. “I think, particularly with Tommy and Tuppence, they are not professionals solving crimes. Our characters sort of stumble into it. We are in a world where there are phones; solving crimes is different.”
“It is fun to explore,” continued Dylan. “You would have thought on the surface that would reduce the fun because everyone is sort of connected, and you think it is easier, but the writers found amazing ways to keep that quintessential mystery.”
Of course, bringing Tommy and Tuppence into the 21st century meant more than simply casting new actors. Rather than delivering a traditional retelling of Christie’s stories, the series reimagines the characters for a modern world. In the original story, The Secret Adversary, the duo meet when demobilised soldier Tommy Beresford reunites with his childhood friend Tuppence Cowley. Unable to find work, they form a business called Young Adventurers Ltd. But in this modern retelling, the story is a bit different and offers a new twist on their relationship.
“Where our series, and our story, starts is that they had been in a relationship 10 years ago, but hadn’t been in contact since then. At the very beginning of the series, they bump into each other,” explained Thomas. “There is a lot of history there. There is a lot of water that is sort of not really under the bridge, in a way.”
“It was a bad breakup, and they are essentially maybe the ones that got away from each other,” Thomas continued.
And to add to the twist, Thomas reveals that this Tuppence has another complication: “She’s married in our version to somebody else. But she’s at a real crossroads.”
But even though the couple has been sleuthing for well over 100 years, there is a contemporary edge to their relationship, with a chemistry that modern audiences will enjoy. They balance each other out.
“Tommy makes Tuppence pause and really think about her actions and the choices she makes in her life. She can’t be completely impulsive about everything,” said Thomas.
“And Tommy is the opposite. Tommy is meticulous and overthinks everything. There is a process and procedure to things,” said Dylan. “But in a way, they sort of really combine. They are good at it in the end.”
Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence, Series Premiere, September 15, BritBox