The BBC‘s latest Agatha Christie adaptation concluded last night neck-and-neck in the ratings with ITV‘s Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? from over the Easter Weekend.
Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy, starring Industry’s David Jonsson as an amateur sleuth working with Rings of Power star Morfydd Clark, was watched by 2.8M viewers last night, losing 800,000 from Wednesday’s opener. Both episodes launched on BBC iPlayer on Wednesday morning so had been available for some time prior to linear launch.
One of the flagship shows of the BBC Christmas schedule, Murder is Easy was the sixth Christie adaptation over the past decade after a landmark deal with Agatha Christie Productions Limited, and the first not to be penned by Sarah Phelps, with Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre taking on writing duties.
Produced by Mammoth Screen, Murder is Easy followed Luke Fitzwilliam (Jonsson), a Nigerian attaché on his way to Whitehall when he meets the mysterious Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton) on a train and is led to a series of deaths in the small village of Wynchwood-Under-Ashe.
The average audience over the two nights was virtually in line with ITV’s Hugh Laurie-starrer Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? from over Easter, which was co-produced for BritBox. The previous BBC Christie adaptation, February 2020’s The Pale Horse, was watched by 5M in what was albeit a slightly different landscape for overnight viewing.
Murder is Easy comfortably overcame competition from ITV’s Helena Bonham Carter-starring Nolly last night, which accrued just 800,000, although that show launched on streamer ITVX several months ago.
On Christmas Day, ratings were dominated by King Charles III’s Christmas Message, followed by Doctor Who.
The next major BBC drama to launch will be The Tourist Season 2 on New Year’s Day, while tonight the pubcaster is airing a feature-length drama about the invention of viagra, produced by Russell T. Davies.
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