It really is a pretty grisly concept. Ten guests – strangers initially – are invited to an isolated rock off the coast of Devon under different pretences. Once there, they will be picked off, one by one, each meeting a sticky end.
But this isn’t the premise of a warped reality TV show – it’s the plot of Agatha Christie’s seminal thriller And Then There Were None. And a new adaptation is about to be shown on BBC One.
Selling more than 100 million copies, the 1939 thriller is Christie’s bestselling book, with global radio, stage, film and TV versions made since its release.
Over three taut episodes, the mini-series, which stars Aidan Turner, Miranda Richardson and Anna Maxwell Martin, will show the downfall of the guests.
With their hosts Mr and Mrs U.N. Owen missing and the weather turning sour, the 10 strangers, who each harbour a dark secret, are soon cut off from civilisation.
As they struggle with their consciences, the mood turns darker and the guests are killed off, their deaths chiming with the ones in the nursery rhyme Ten Little Soldier Boys.
Much as the story is popular, Richardson thinks the Beeb’s offering will show something new.
“What’s nice about this adaptation of And Then There Were None is that it’s very, very dark,” explains the actress.
“There’s actually hidden, nasty stuff that I think is quite appropriate for a modern audience. We seem to need a bit more.”
Quite. But who is playing who? Before the first episode is shown on Boxing Day, we take a closer look…
Charles Dance, 69
Previous work: Dance played powerful Tywin Lannister in Game Of Thrones and is also known for his roles in Gosford Park, Alien 3 and The Imitation Game.
Character: Justice Wargrave, a retired judge.
What he says: “There’s a mystery to all of the characters when they arrive, but even more so in the case of Wargrave. You never know whether what he’s saying is true or not, all the way through the piece.”
Maeve Dermody, 30
Previous work: While a relative unknown in the UK, Dermody is a regular on TV back in her native Australia and best remembered for her performance in 2009 film Beautiful Kate.
Character: Vera Claythorne, a governess.
What she says: “She is so complicated and unexpected. You’re surprised by her and what her life has been. The script was incredibly strong – it’s period but feels contemporary, raw and fierce – and it’s such a good female role.”
Aidan Turner, 32
Previous work: Take your pick from the brooding Ross Poldark, valiant Kili in The Hobbit and Mitchell in cult TV fantasy series Being Human.
Character: Philip Lombard, an Irish mercenary.
What he says: “He has a complete disregard for humanity. I wouldn’t put anything past him. I had to wear these high-waisted pants for a lot of the show and they’re really comfortable and quite flattering! We’ve got it wrong now, wearing jeans and boots and all this low-waisted stuff and T-shirts.”
Toby Stephens, 46
Previous work: Stephens is known for playing Bond villain Gustav in Die Another Day, Rochester in the 2006 adaptation of Jane Eyre and for his lead role in Michael Bay’s TV series Black Sails.
Character: Dr. Edward Armstrong.
What he says: “With Armstrong, I felt like he’s one of those people you meet initially and think he’s a horrible man. He’s sort of priggish, arrogant, smug, slightly conceited, and then you realise actually, he’s this tragic character and that because of his past, his life has been blighted.”
Burn Gorman, 41
Previous work: American-born Gorman was raised in England and has starred as medic Owen in Torchwood, Karl Tanner in Game Of Thrones and in new Amazon Prime series The Man In The High Castle as The Marshal.
Character: William Blore, a private investigator.
What he says: “What’s interesting about Inspector Blore is that he’s somebody who, on the outside, has been brought in to solve a crime, but is actually accused of one of the most heinous crimes of the lot. He’s a brute, but he has got a soft side. He’s probably quite a good policeman, or at least started off as a good policeman, but he’s got these very dark, hidden secrets that he desperately doesn’t want anyone else to know about.”
Miranda Richardson, 57
Previous work: From Mapp And Lucia, to Blackadder, Sleepy Hollow, The Hours and Harry Potter, Richardson has had a rich career on our screens.
Character: Emily Brent, an elderly spinster.
What she says: “She’s a complete hypocrite. She starts out as this monstrous, Bible-reading, God-fearing, knitting person and as time goes on, you find out more about her.
“I came to view knitting as her version of therapy that she doesn’t even know she needs, because it’s when she knits that she confesses to people.”
Noah Taylor, 46
Previous work: Taylor played Locke in Game Of Thrones, Dr Carter in Edge Of Tomorrow and Darby in the BBC’s Peaky Blinders.
Character: Thomas Rogers, the butler.
What he says: “Rogers is a dangerous and duplicitous fellow. He’s skilled at presenting a fawning, subservient image to his masters, whilst plotting away against them downstairs. He is frustrated and bitter with his lot in life and takes it out on his poor long-suffering wife Ethel.”
Anna Maxwell Martin, 38
Previous work: As well as playing the titular character’s daughter in the award-winning Philomena, Maxwell Martin took the leading role in period drama South Riding and also had roles in Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and Death Comes To Pemberley.
Character: Ethel Rogers, the cook/housekeeper.
What she says: “She’s cowed by life, dedicated to her job but very scared of her husband. She’s very damaged.”
Sam Neill, 68
Previous work: The actor is best remembered for playing dad Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park films, Captain Borodin in The Hunt For Red October, and Alisdair in The Piano.
Character: General MacArthur, a war veteran.
What he says: “As for so many millions of others, the battles of the First World War took their toll on General MacArthur – there wasn’t anyone that came out of that war undamaged. He is a damaged man.”
Douglas Booth, 23
Previous work: The young actor played charismatic student Harry in The Riot Club, Titus in Jupiter Ascending and Romeo in the 2013 version of Romeo And Juliet.
Character: Anthony Marston, a reckless young man.
What he says: “What’s interesting about my character, is that he is truly unaware of his secret, of his darker side, because he’s just so thoughtless, so uncaring and self-centred that he’s not even aware.”
And Then There Were None starts on BBC One on Boxing Day.
Don’t miss our TV special in the P&J on Christmas Eve.