The Affair of the Pink Pearl (Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime episode)

The Affair of the Pink Pearl is the first episode in the television series Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime, based on the short story collection Partners in Crime. It was written by David Butler, directed by Tony Wharmby and first broadcast on 16 October 1983. It is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie short story of the same name.

Synopsis
Tommy and Tuppence are newly web and bored. At the suggestion of Inspector Marriot, they buy over a defunct detective agency.

Comparison with the original story
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)
 * The first part of the episode incorporates part of background A Fairy in the Flat/A Pot of Tea, including Tuppence's remarks about hats. Here, however, it is Inspector Marriot who sets them up and not their old secret service handler Mr Carter. Also included is the the preliminary case in which Tuppence stages to set Lawrence St Vincent up with Janet Smith.

Cast

 * Francesca Annis as Tuppence Beresford
 * James Warwick as Tommy Beresford
 * Reece Dinsdale as Albert Batt
 * William Hootkins as Hamilton Betts
 * Graham Crowden as Colonel Kingston-Bruce
 * Susannah Morley as Beatrice Kingston-Bruce
 * Arthur Cox as Detective Inspector Marriot
 * Dulcie Gray as Lady Laura Barton
 * Lynda La Plante as Phyllis Betts
 * Charles Shaughnessy as John Rennie
 * Fleur Chandler as Janet Smith
 * Ursula Mohan as Elise
 * Tim Woodward as Lawrence St. Vincent
 * Noel Dyson as Mrs Kingston-Bruce
 * Uncredited actress as Gladys

The opening episode of the series combined the first four chapters of the book (A Fairy in the Flat/A Pot of Tea and The Affair of the Pink Pearl, Parts I and II.) and followed those narratives closely. Reference was made to following the techniques of fictional detectives when Tommy plays a violin mimicking Sherlock Holmes. Dulcie Gray was advertised as the guest star.