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In the novel A Murder is Announced, Mr. Beddingfeld is Miss Blacklock's lawyer, with an office in Milchester. Miss Blacklock's will had stated that upon her death, Dora Bunner would inherit all the furniture in Little Paddocks, and a small annuity. The rest of her money would go to Patrick and Julia Simmons. However, Miss Blacklock decided to make a new will, and drove to Milchester to see Mr Beddingfeld for that purpose. According to the new will, aside from Miss Bunner's legacy, everything was to go to Phillipa Haymes.

Portrayals[]

Mr Beddingfield does not appear in the BBC adaptation of the novel which formed part of the Miss Marple series. The entire sideplot about changing the will is omitted.

In the ITV 2005 adaptation of the novel, Mr Beddingfield also does not appear. However Miss Blacklock does tell Philippa that she is changing her will to favour her. Just as in the book, Julia Simmons overhears this and believes that Miss Blacklock intended her to overhear it.

The character of Mr Beddingfeld is also omitted in Murder Party, the France Televisions and Escazal Films adaptation of the novel which formed part of the TV series Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie. However here Philippine Leroy (who is the parallel of Phillipa in the episode) is already the sole beneficiary of Leticia Salvan's will.

See also[]