Agatha Christie

The story – first published in 1961 – will be adapted for TV by the writer Sarah Phelps, who has previously adapted Christie’s novels, And Then There Were None and The Witness For The Prosecution.

“The Pale Horse is a shivery, paranoid story about superstition, love gone wrong, guilt and grief. It’s about what we’re capable of when we’re desperate and what we believe when all the lights go out and we’re alone in the dark," says Sarah Phelps, who also serves as an executive producer.

Filming is set to begin in June, with John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich, In The Line Of Fire, Dangerous Liaisons) leading an all-star cast as Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot.

The deal between BBC One and Agatha Christie Productions Ltd follows the critical success of 2015’s Christmas drama And Then There Were None, adapted by Sarah Phelps and starring Poldark’s Aidan Turner.

Bringing together the creative team behind the broadcaster's recent retelling of Christie's And Then There Were None, the new two-part drama will be produced by Mammoth Screen and written by Sarah Phelps.

Starring Toby Jones as solicitor John Mayhew, the plot follows the court case of Leonard Vole, heir to a large fortune, who is charged with killing his benefactor Emily French.

Dickensian

BBC One

7pm

On Christmas Eve, Jacob Marley, money-lender and partner to Ebenezer Scrooge, is visiting clients to collect their outstanding debts. His first stop is the Old Curiosity Shop, where old Grandfather is keeping vigil beside the desperately sick Little Nell.

Meanwhile gang-master and pimp Fagin has arranged for street girl Nancy to visit Marley for his evening’s entertainment.

Things take a nasty turn for the money-lender though, and as the clock chimes 9pm, Marley’s dead body is found lying in the snow.