Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

Review – Daniel Tessier

Based on Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel (also known by its 1935 US market name, The Boomerang Clue), Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? is a star-studded serial, led by Will Poulter and Lucy Boynton. It’s a beautifully directed and witty adaptation that is both gripping and funny. These qualities are unsurprising, given that it’s both written and directed by Hugh Laurie, the multi-talented actor who is equally adept at both thrilling drama and outlandish comedy. He also plays the sinister neuro-psychologist Dr. Nicholson; imagine Dr. Gregory House without the humour and even less bedside manner. It’s only surprising he didn’t provide the music as well.

Of course, it’s Christie’s original that provides the best material, as has always been the case, but it takes skill and care to adapt her works well for the screen. Both ITV and the BBC have produced numerous adaptations over the years with varying degrees of success, with the high water mark being ITV’s celebrated series Agatha Christie’s Poirot. This adaptation of Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? is the first time the two organisations have worked together to adapt a Christie work, as it was produced and first released on the streaming service BritBox, a joint venture. (It was later broadcast on ITV1 in April 2023, a year after its release on the BritBox platform.)

This isn’t the first TV adaptation of this novel. There have been several before, the first being LWT’s version for ITV in 1980, the first television version of one of Christie’s works after her death in 1976 and her estate’s subsequent lifting of her ban on TV studios gaining the rights to her work. It wasn’t until 2011 that it was adapted again, this time heavily modified as an episode of ITV’s Agatha Christie's Marple, which inserted Miss Marple into several stories in which she did not originally appear. It was also adapted into an episode of the French crime/comedy series Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie.

Laurie’s version is a far more faithful adaptation than the others of this century, with some relatively minor alterations to help the story flow, largely removing some of the more unbelievable contrivances. The story still leads the viewer on a merry dance, circling back round to its own beginning as the mystery gets more and more knotted before finally unravelling. It begins when young Bobby Jones – vicar’s son, former naval officer and odd-job man – discovers a dying man at the bottom of a cliff, off the edge of the gold course on which he is caddying. The man’s last words before he finally expires are, “Why didn’t they ask Evans?” without context or explanation. The sudden appearance of one Roger Bassington-ffrench (he’ll remind you of the spelling whenever he can) means that Bobby is able to get to his father’s church almost in time for his service, leaving the stranger to wait for help.

Will Poulter (Dopesick, The Bear, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch) is excellent in the starring role of Bobby. Being such a thoroughly upstanding chap and all-round good egg, Bobby could easily be quite boring under a lesser actor, but Poulter makes him extremely engaging and likeable. Overly trusting but equally curious, he can’t help but be intrigued by the mystery of the dead man, the identity of Evans, and just what Evans wasn’t asked, becoming fully involved as other, more dangerous parties close in, fearful of what he might know. (As he jokes later, it’s very little, and they’d have been far better off leaving him alone instead of forcing him to become involved.)

His partner in crime-solving is his childhood crush Frances Derwent, daughter of the local earl. Better known as Frankie, she’s a far more proactive, troublesome and cunning character than her parents Lord and Lady Marcham (Jim Broadbent and Emma Thomson) would like. Lucy Boynton (Life in Squares, The Ipcress File, A Cruel Love) builds on the script’s characterisation to make Frankie an infectiously fun, curious and adventurous amateur sleuth. Effortlessly classy but happier in overalls or a suit than a refined dress, Frankie is somewhat smarter than Bobby and certainly more cunning - and has a razor-sharp wit. Unfortunately, while Bobby can’t help being chivalrous and putting himself in harm’s way, Frankie can’t keep quiet and reveals information to the wrong parties, even when spinning tall stories to hide her identity.

It's obvious from the outset that Frankie and Bobby are besotted with each (it doesn’t hurt that they’re played by beautiful movie stars who seem to have been designed to model period costume), but there are obstacles in their way. The main one is Bobby’s reluctance to get involved with someone far above his station, even though Frankie doesn’t care a bit. They also find their heads turned by people involved in the mystery, with Bobby becoming something of a one-man rescue mission for Moira, beleaguered wife of Dr. Nicholson. Moira is portrayed by Maeve Dermody, who previously starred in the 2015 BBC adaptation of And Then There Were None (as well as being a regular on Carnival Row, The Frankenstein Chronicles and The Beast Must Die).

Frankie, on the other hand, finds herself increasingly drawn to Roger Bassington-ffrench, whose family is somehow linked to both the death of the unfortunate man at the golf course and Dr. Nicholson’s sanatorium. Played by Daniel Ings (Lovesick, Instinct, Sex Education), Roger is a charming, intelligent man of uncertain loyalties. He lives with his drug-addicted elder brother (Miles Jupp – Rev, The Thick of It) and well-meaning sister-in-law (Amy Nuttall – Downton Abbey, Emmerdale).

Fortunately, Bobby and Frankie have their own support. Bobby’s best friend, old shipmate and new business partner at a slightly dodgy garage and car dealership is Knocker (Badger in the original novel). Jonathan Jules (Soon Gone, Masters of the Air) is great fun as the boisterous and heroic mechanic. Frankie calls on her friend Alex, a young doctor, played by Leon Ockendon (Senna, Coronation Street), mild-mannered but resourceful and quick-thinking. In his home village, Bobby can also rely on his father (Alastair Petrie – Sex Education, The Terror) and the local doctor (Conleth Hill – Moonflower Murders, Game of Thrones). More nefarious sorts caught up in the mystery include liar extraordinaire Mrs Cayman (Morwenna Banks – Catterick, Absolutely, Peppa Pig) and the violently persuasive Mr. Angel (Nicholas Asbury – 37 Days, Alma’s Not Normal). On the side of no one but paying customers and fishermen, Paul Whitehouse has a memorable role as a grasping pub landlord.

The entire production is absolutely gorgeous, with location work at the Surrey villages of Albery and Shere, and at Three Cliffs Bay in Swansea. Laurie’s direction is impeccable, enhancing every scene, and the novel is a great fit for him as he adapts it into a riveting and wryly amusing adventure. Filmed as three hour-long episodes, it’s also been released in a four-part edit; either way, it’s well-paced and intricate, with only the ending letting it down somewhat. Once the mystery is resolved, explanations are given by the guilty party and the remaining concerns of the plot are resolved perfunctorily; this, however, is as much down to the novel itself as the script.

None of this would matter without the engaging cast, with Poulter and Boynton making for a brilliant double act as Bobby and Frankie. Indeed, there’s clear scope for these amateur sleuths to come back for an original adventure, should Mr Laurie fancy writing one.