A Murder is Announced was the fourth episode in the BBC series "Miss Marple". It featured Joan Hickson as Miss Marple and was directed by David Giles with screenplay by Alan Plater. It was first broadcast in three parts from 28 February and 1-2 March 1985 in the U.K. It was an adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel of the same name.
Synopsis[]
An unusual announcement in the newspaper leads the curious villagers to Miss Blacklock's home, where they become witnesses to a murder.
Comparison with original novel[]
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)
The adaptation is highly faithful to the original novel with a few minor changes.
- The character of Sir Henry Clithering is omitted. The chief constable George Rydesdale here appears to know about Miss Marple already.
Cast[]
- Joan Hickson as Miss Marple
- Ursula Howells as Miss Blacklock
- Samantha Bond as Julia Simmons
- Simon Shepherd as Patrick Simmons
- Nicola King as Phillipa Haymes
- Elaine Ives-Cameron as Hannah
- Ralph Michael as Colonel Easterbrook
- Sylvia Syms as Mrs Easterbrook
- Matthew Solon as Edmund Swettenham
- Mary Kerridge as Mrs Swettenham
- Joan Sims as Miss Murgatroyd
- Paola Dionisotti as Miss Hinchcliffe
- Vivienne Moore as Mrs. Harmon
- David Collings as Reverend Harmon
- Richard Bebb as Rydesdale
- John Castle as Detective Inspector Craddock
- Kevin Whately as Detective Sergeant Fletcher
- Renée Asherson as Miss Bunner
- Liz Crowther as Myrna Harris
- David Pinner as Rowlandson
- Tim Charrington as Rudi Scherz
- Victoria Williams as Bluebird Café Waitress
- Joyce Carey as Belle Goedler
- Kay Gallie as Sister McClelland
Tropes and Themes[]
Filming Locations[]
- Ross on Wye
- Royal Hotel, Ross on Wye - Miss Marple's hotel
- some street scenes, Church Street, Ross-on-Wye
- No 4 Church Street - Chipping Cleghorn Gazette
- Powerstock, Dorset
- Chipping Cleghorn village scenes
- House on Dugberry Hill near junction with School Hill, DT6 3TD - Blue Bird Cafe
- Church of St Mary the Virgin - village church
- Myrtle Cottage, Dugberry Hill (50.7637780, -2.6874604) - Col Easterbrook's house
- Glebe House, Dugberry Hill - the vicarage
- Lower Townsend Farmhouse, Dugberry Hill - Boulders
- Ardverikie House - As the home of Belle Goedler in Scotland.
- West Compton House, West Compton, Dorchester DT2 0EY - Little Paddocks (a B and B, actually it only has three guest bedrooms!)