Additional Adaptations of Agatha Christie's Poirot Planned for David Suchet

For most of this year, David Suchet's future as Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot has been in doubt. The Belgian private detective appeared in 33 novels and 51 short stories by Agatha Christie from 1920 to 1975, and Suchet has starred in television adaptations since 1989 of all but six.

In January, ITV neglected to mention the series in its future plans. At the time, Suchet said, "I'm pragmatic and accept that things get cancelled. Of course there are cutbacks in TV drama and if it is not to be, it is not to be. I will have to be a big boy and accept it."

In April, Suchet said, "I only have six more stories to do and that will be the complete works of Hercule Poirot. I'm desperate to do it, while God gives me life."

And yet, no word from ITV.

Until now.

The Sunday Express is reporting that the producers have confirmed a 13th season of the series will air sometime in 2011. Left unstated is how many of the six remaining stories will be adapted. (There are four novels: The Big Four, Dead Man's Folly, Elephants Can Remember, and Curtain; a short story collection, The Labours of Hercules; and the play Black Coffee. What becomes of an early short story, "The Lemesurier Inheritance", is unclear as Suchet never refers to it.) The 12th season of Agatha Christie's Poirot included four episodes.