Furious Agatha Christie fans have lambasted the BBC for changing the ending of its latest Agatha Christie whodunit.
Viewers were left shocked when the Ordeal by Innocence killer was revealed last night as Love Actually star Bill Nighy’s character Leo Argyll.
In the original book, housemaid Kirsten Lindstrom, played by Morven Christie, murdered Leo’s wife Rachel (Anna Chancellor).
While some praised the “bold” decision by writer Sarah Phelps to change the culprit, many took to Twitter to criticise BBC1’s adaptation.
One said: “So some arrogant BBC writer thought they could do better than the phenomenal Agatha Christie?
“Why adapt something if you’re going to change everything, even the killer?! Just write something new instead, it’s much better I think.”
Another wrote: “Can people stop messing around with Agatha Christie’s stories please? At least go by the correct murderer.”
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A third fumed: “What is the point of making a drama based on a well known story & totally changing the bloody story? Wasn’t Agatha Christie a good enough story teller?!”
The three-part murder mystery was initially earmarked for Boxing Day as one of the highlights of BBC1’s Christmas schedule.
But it was pulled after actor Ed Westwick was accused of historic sexual assault allegations, which he denies.
So some arrogant BBC writer thought they could do better than the phenomenal Agatha Christie? Why adapt something if you’re going to change everything, even the killer?! Just write something new instead, it’s much better I think. #OrdealByInnocence
— Walcott (@JrMoe_) April 16, 2018
Can people stop messing around with Agatha Christie’s stories please? At least go by the correct murderer #ordealbyinnocence
— Selina.D.M (@SelinaDMoses) April 15, 2018
What is the point of making a drama based on a well known story & totally changing the bloody story #OrdealByInnocence wasn’t Agatha Christie a good enough story teller?! FFS
— Jane Brewer (@jane_brewer) April 15, 2018
Not amused that the #BBC changed the ending to #OrdealByInnocence If it ain’t broke don’t fix it! Don’t mess with #AgathaChristie books!!
— SuzanneWithAZed (@SuzanneSteedman) April 15, 2018
If the @BBC really think they can do better than Agatha Christie they shouldn’t even bother calling something an ‘adaptation’… #OrdealByInnocence was great but it doesn’t seem to bear much resemblance to the book
— Ellie (@EllieL_S) April 15, 2018
Could someone explain to my why the BBC think they can do better than the queen Agatha Christie herself?!? Why produce (wonderful as stand alones) adaptations if you’re going to mess with her entire plot first And Then There Were None and now #OrdealByInnocence 🧐😳🤯
— HOL🌹 (@omgitshollz) April 15, 2018
It’s not Agatha Christie if you change the killer. Her work is brilliant enough without needing to be altered. There’s enough original drama you can play about with.
— Katie Wild (@WildSkoots) April 16, 2018
#OrdealByInnocence was Agatha Christie in nothing but name. Her name was seemingly only attached to give it credence it didn’t deserve.
— Just_Dawn (@A_Dawn_P) April 16, 2018
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He was replaced by Christian Cooke and many of his scenes had to be re-shot in the first few weeks of 2018.
The cast also included Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson, US star Catherine Keener, Downton Abbey actor Matthew Goode, Anthony Boyle and Luke Treadaway.
Was the BBC right to change the ending? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!