The wit is dryer, the barbs somehow more pointed. Which is a shame, because the Hickson movies prove that a mystery need not have some capital-a ACTING to be funny. And when she almost apologetically solves the case, it all makes sense - many's a Christie adaptation where so much time is spent on the camp, they forget the clues. Besides which, her connection to the household and her perceived dottiness (is it affected? Hickson cleverly leaves us in doubt) makes the suspects more comfortable in opening up. When they do meet up, their allyship and the rope Neele gives Miss Marple in her own sleuthing, is quickly and convincingly handled. Up to that point, we've been following the investigation of Detective Inspector Neele, played by future Oscar nominee Tom Wilkinson. While Hickson appears now and then throughout episode one, reacting to newspaper coverage of the murder, she does not actually come onto the scene herself until episode two, more than 50 minutes into the story. Take today's episode, A Pocketful of Rye, in which a tycoon is murdered and Miss Marple appears halfway through when she realizes a girl she trained as a housemaid worked in said tycoon's home.

They're quieter, more straightforward, and any deviations from the material are barely noticeable. With few exceptions, the Hickson Marples adhere closely to their source novels, preferring to let the actors and mystery speak for themselves. And who better to play the role than someone from the proven Evans cast? Someone who, at 78, was now the perfect age? Someone who Christie herself wanted?

Based on that success, the BBC commissioned a new series of television films starring Miss Marple. Her next stop on the Christie train was the 1980 made-for-TV adaptation of Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, which both proved to be a success and received approval from Christie's daughter Rosalind Hicks.

Joan hickson a pocket full of rye