Poirot Gets… Sexy?
For decades, Hercule Poirot has been portrayed by distinguished older gentlemen with magnificent moustaches - so it came as something of a surprise this week when the BBC unveiled its newest detective: 32-year-old Edward Bluemel. This prompted more than a few people to wonder whether Poirot has suddenly become... a bit sexy? Not my type, mind you, but he certainly has his admirers.
The new six-part series, Hercule, will turn the clock back to the detective's early years, following his first adventures alongside Captain Hastings and Inspector Japp. It's an interesting approach to one of crime fiction's greatest characters, and while Sir David Suchet will always be the Poirot for us, it should certainly be a different sort of viewing experience. The fact that it’s a prequel might make it a little easier to handle the unusually youthful casting. If it’s anything like Endeavour, it might even be quite good.
The BBC Presses Reset on Doctor Who
The BBC has announced a major update on the future of Doctor Who, revealing that it will begin seeking a new production partner to help shape the next era of the long-running sci-fi series. The broadcaster emphasized that Doctor Who remains a key part of its programming and said the move is intended to ensure the show's future for years to come.
The announcement also includes some disappointing news: the previously planned Doctor Who Christmas special will no longer go ahead. According to the BBC, Russell T Davies, and Bad Wolf, the decision was made so resources could be focused on the show's longer-term future rather than a one-off episode.
Recent series have been plagued by controversy, so it should be interesting to see what they come up with next.
Down Cemetery Road Returns to Set
Down Cemetery Road returns to set in July for the filming of season 2. Apple TV+ hasn’t shared many details, but they did confirm that both Ruth Wilson and Emma Thompson will be back. It’s too soon for a premiere date, but with filming this summer, it will probably be sometime in 2027.
NOW IN STOCK: British TV Streaming Guide: US Edition, Summer 2026
~230 pages cover 25 US-based streaming services, telling you which British TV shows are available on each and what they're about. No need to give yourself carpal tunnel clicking through endless on-screen menus.
An alphabetised index for when you know the name of the show, but not the streaming service.
Size 12 font! Even as the guide has gotten longer, we’ve avoided shrinking the text because we don’t want it to be unreadably small.
Each edition has bonus features in back. This time, we look at under-the-radar and interesting early appearances by well-known British actors.
A "Renewals & Cancellations" section that offers status updates about which shows are returning (or not).
What we’re…
Watching: Patience, Season 2 - Set in York, this British mystery follows the unlikely pairing of a police detective and an autistic woman. Personally, I strongly prefer the original French version of this series (also available on PBS Masterpiece via Amazon) - but that’s not to say the British version is bad. York is an incredible city and it makes a lovely backdrop, and the adaptation has just enough differences to keep it interesting even if you’ve already seen the original.
Reading: Because You’re Worth It by Sally Jenkins - I picked this one up on sale, and at time of writing, it’s still 99 cents in ebook format. The story follows Michelle, a 64-year-old widow whose mother has recently passed away, leaving her half a million pounds she doesn’t feel she deserves - and there’s also a romance plot involving her teenage crush (her brother’s oldest friend) and a dashing charity trustee.
THIS WEEK IN BRITISH TV
On BritBox, June 9th brings season 4 of Beyond Paradise, with new episodes weekly through July 14th. On June 15th, they’ll add season 14 of the comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
On Acorn TV, Mondays are currently bringing us new episodes of season 19 of Murdoch Mysteries, season 1 of You’re Killing Me, Summertide, and Summerwater. On the 6th, they added the nature docuseries Wild Spring, followed by True Crime Story: It Couldn’t Happen Here on the 8th. Next week, look for The Last Anniversary (delayed from a couple months back) on June 15th.
On PBS Masterpiece and PBS.org, the final season of Grantchester (11) will prmiere on June 14th, with new episodes weekly through August 2nd.
On Amazon Prime Video, season 5 of Clarkson’s Farm premiered with episodes 1-4 on June 3rd, with episodes 5-6 coming on the 10th and 7-8 on the 17th.
On Netflix, the 4th brought the true crime documentary The Murder of Rachel Nickell, telling the story of a young mum murdered in broad daylight on London’s Wimbledon Common. On the same day, they also added The Witness, a dramatised version of the aftermath of her murder.
On Hulu, all episodes of season 2 (part 1) of Rivals (based on Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles) are now available. The remainder of season 2 will premiere in the autumn. On the 4th, they added season 13 of Love Island UK. On June 8th, they added the Nicola Walker-led drama Alice and Steve. The series follows a middle-aged woman who loses her best friend and daughter when the two start dating.
On BBC Select and BritBox Premier, look for The Real Unforgotten: The Unsolved Murder of Carol Morgan on the 11th
On Starz, they’ll be adding The Listeners on June 12th. This thriller follows an English teacher who begins to hear a low humming sound nobody else can hear.
NOW IN STOCK - Cassocks & Cobblestones: A 1950s Cotswolds Adult Coloring Book inspired by the landscapes and villages of Father Brown
“It is a small problem merely. But a problem that will agitate the little grey cells most adequately.”
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
