Latest news with #Suchet
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
David Suchet 'would never have done Poirot' if he knew it would last 25 years
David Suchet has admitted he would never have signed up to Poirot had he known the TV role would go on for 25 years. The actor starred as Hercule Poirot in an ITV adaptation of Agatha Christie's books that ran for 13 series between 1989 and 2013, becoming his best known role. But Suchet told ITV's Lorraine on Monday that he originally thought he was signing up to one series and would have turned it down if he had realised the scope of the programme. Meanwhile, new Agatha Christie adaptation Towards Zero is currently airing on BBC One but has left viewers unimpressed with its slow pace and Suchet shared that he had not been watching. Suchet might be beloved by many Agatha Christie fans as private investigator Hercule Poirot in the long-running TV adaptation of her books but he admitted he had no idea of what he was committing himself to. Telling Lorraine that he still felt attached to the role despite it coming to an end in 2013, he said: "I don't think I can let (Poirot) go, he was part of my life for 25 years. I mean that's a quarter of a century and I never knew I was going to do 25 years. "I only got employed for one series and didn't know they were going to be doing others. If I was offered a 25 year contract playing one character, I would have said no." Read more: Towards Zero Towards Zero full cast, episodes, plot and filming locations for BBC series (Birmingham Live, 4 min read) Towards Zero review: hardboiled Agatha Christie adaptation is a winner (The Standard, 2 min read) Towards Zero star Matthew Rhys on why he's the 'Eeyore of drama' and his surprising 'source of pride' away from acting (Wales Online, 6 min read) However, he added: "So this was perfect because I was free to do theatre, I could go to Hollywood and do movies, other television, I've just had a wonderful career." Suchet also said that he remains a big fan of Christie's work, saying: "She's not called the Queen of Crime for nothing. She really is." Despite being a Christie fan, asked whether he had been watching the current BBC adaptation of Towards Zero Suchet admitted: "No, I haven't." Host Lorraine Kelly told him that the latest episode had included a steamy sex scene but said: "I don't know, Agatha was pretty broad minded, I don't think she would mind." But some viewers were shocked by the scene which included a sex act on a staircase as one wrote: "bloody hell, on the staircase (watching with my parents)" Other viewers have complained that Towards Zero is "boring" and that it has taken too long to get around to the murder part of the storyline. Someone commented: "A thousand sideways glances, a furtive butler and a meandering plot - all hurtling #TowardsZero happening." Another viewer added: "#TowardsZero is at best a description of viewing figures." One other person agreed: "Towards Zero Action. Towards Zero Interest. Towards Zero Viewers." During episode two, one viewer wrote: "An hour and 40 minutes, and we finally have a murder." Lorraine airs on ITV1 at 9am on weekdays.
Chicago Tribune
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Travels with Agatha Christie and Sir David Suchet' review: The actor known for Hercule Poirot follows in the author's footsteps
Over the last quarter century, David Suchet became the definitive Hercule Poirot, starring as the fussy but perceptive private detective in 70 screen adaptations of Agatha Christie's murder mysteries. He digs a little deeper into the author's biography in the BritBox travelogue series 'Travels with Agatha Christie & Sir David Suchet,' in which he follows the same route as her 1922 world tour. She undertook the journey, with her first husband Archie, to points in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Because Hawaii was a midpoint on the journey, the couple stopped there as well on holiday. Celebrity-hosted travel shows are often underwhelming. Anthony Bourdain was an exception who brought real vigor and energy to the genre. But I was intrigued by the premise here because Suchet's career is so interwoven with that of Christie's. 'He became my very best friend,' he says of Poirot. Like the fictional character, Suchet is a genial, cordial and elegantly enthusiastic companion and guide. He mentions that his grandfather worked as a Fleet Street photographer, which is perhaps why he is compelled to take portraits of each expert with whom he spends time. It's a nice touch. Christie suffered from acute seasickness, unfortunate considering her trips to each continent were by ship. But it was a trait she would give to Poirot. 'I think travel is a wonderful educator,' Suchet says, but the show itself doesn't take that idea far enough. I was hoping for more insights into how this 10-month tour — upon which Christie embarked before she was famous; she had just one novel published at the time — might have shaped her mindset as a person, but also specifically as a writer. The Christies went on the tour as part of a group tasked with promoting the upcoming 1924 British Empire Exhibition, an event that isn't fully explained but sounds something like a trade convention. The empire of it all is a cringe-making scenario for the TV series, which is smart enough to steer into criticisms of colonialist realities, rather than pretend they don't exist (as Christie and her travel companions surely did). In Cape Town, for example, Suchet visits a residence that belonged to Cecil Rhodes, the English imperialist whose policies paved the way for apartheid. But then Suchet meets with the three founders of a group called Rhodes Must Fall to discuss the 'serious legacies of colonialism that are still not only lingering but are continuing to reproduce themselves.' Too often, however, there's a fraught undercurrent throughout 'Travels with Agatha Christie & Sir David Suchet' when it comes to British exploitation that the series fails to overcome despite its best efforts. While in Africa, Suchet visits Kimberley, the site of diamond mines (and where Rhodes founded the De Beers diamond company), and the plunder and extraction are so clear. Suchet notes that the setting turns up in one of Christie's novels, 'The Man in the Brown Suit': The more he reads the book, 'the more I'm becoming aware of how many of Agatha's own experiences make their way into the plot,' he says, but that's the extent of what we learn. You could argue this is a travel show, not a documentary series about her novels, but I think a better ratio between the two would have resulted in something more compelling. The British characters in Christie's books are forever looking down their noses at anyone considered an outsider or 'foreign,' and that often extends to Poirot himself, a Belgian. There are different ways to read into that. Is Christie skewering their insular attitudes? That's my preferred interpretation, because the aristocrats and other elites in her novels are absurd creatures to begin with. Christie was a world traveler by the time her career began in earnest; it's fair to wonder if that informed how she viewed, and wrote about, the bigotries and narrow-mindedness of the British upper crust. The series doesn't broach the topic, maybe because there's just no way to know. She didn't keep a journal during the trip, despite telling a newspaper reporter before her departure that 'the tools of my trade are going around the world with me — typewriter, notebooks and heaps and heaps of paper.' In that same interview, which Suchet reads ahead of his own departure, she anticipates the reception she might receive in each new place: 'I'm not sure that the people in the overseas dominions are going to like me. They may find my love of crime objectionable.' And then, with an early 20th century version of 'welp,' she adds: 'It can not be helped.' 'Travels with Agatha Christie & Sir David Suchet' — 2 stars (out of 4) Where to watch: BritBox
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Seven things to know about epilepsy in children as new drug rolled out
Children in England living with a rare and severe form of epilepsy could soon benefit from a new drug being rolled out on the NHS. Fenfluramine has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for patients aged two and over with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS). LGS is a rare and severe form of epilepsy that starts in early childhood and is resistant to many treatments. It is thought that around 1-2% of the 60,000 children in England with epilepsy have LGS. The drug, the first non-cannabis-based treatment approved for this form of epilepsy, is taken as an oral liquid medicine daily and works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain to reduce seizures. Lisa Suchet, whose 10-year-old son has LGS, says the drug offers her son hope of "seizure freedom". "My son has suffered with seizures since he was five weeks of age, including drop seizures, which are the most devastating," she said. "They occur without warning, cause immediate collapse and the risk of head injury is high due to the sudden fall." Suchet says until now there have been so few effective drugs for seizure control. "Many don't work for all patients; many have debilitating side effects or interactions with other meds a patient might have to take," she explains. "That there is another option now available, which has shown effective results and minimal side effects is a huge comfort. It is essentially providing a chance of seizure freedom, which is essentially another chance at life really; for the patient and the family or carers who are impacted so significantly by this awful disease." Epilepsy is a neurological condition (affecting the brain and nervous system) where a person has a tendency to have seizures that start as a disruption of signals in the brain. Some children stop having seizures after a period of being on treatment, others, however, need treatment for long periods. The condition is more common than many people realise, with around one child in every 200 living with epilepsy. The NHS says that while there is sometimes a clear reason for epilepsy developing, for example a severe blow to the head, an infection of the brain such as meningitis, or brain damage due to lack of oxygen during a difficult birth, in other cases it isn't obvious. It's possible a child's epilepsy could be partly caused by their genes affecting how their brain works, as the NHS estimates around one in three people with epilepsy have a family member with it. Seizures are caused by a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain, which temporarily disrupts the way messages are passed between brain cells. There are a number of different types of epileptic seizure, but the type a child has depends on which part of their brain is affected by the condition. The Epilepsy Society says there are two main types of seizure: focal seizures and generalised seizures. "Focal seizures start in only one side of the brain and generalised seizures affect both sides of the brain," the charity explains. "Generally, adults and children have the same types of seizure. However, some may be more common in childhood (for example, absence seizures which can be very brief and are often mistaken for 'daydreaming' or not paying attention)." The kind of symptoms a child experiences during a seizure can include: jerking of the body repetitive movements unusual sensations such as a strange taste in the mouth or a strange smell, or a rising feeling in the stomach. In some types of seizure, a child may be aware of what is happening. In other types, a child will be unconscious and have no memory of what happened afterwards. Some children may have seizures when they are sleeping (sometimes called "asleep" or 'nocturnal' seizures). The Epilepsy Society says some children's seizures can occur in response to triggers such as stress, excitement, boredom, missed medication, or lack of sleep. The charity recommends keeping a diary of your child's seizures, which can help to see if there are any patterns to when they happen and what may have triggered them. If a child experiences a tonic-clonic seizure (when their body goes stiff and the type of seizures most people associate with epilepsy) the Great Ormond Street Hospital recommends not trying to stop it. "Instead, move any furniture out of the way, try to loosen any tight clothing around the neck and stay with the child until the seizure has finished," the site explains. "As soon as uncontrolled movements finish, lay the child on their side in the recovery position." If a child has another type of seizure, it is recommended you sit them down quietly and stay with them until they are fully recovered and alert. Reassure the child calmly. The NHS recommends calling 999 for an ambulance if your child: is having a seizure for the first time has a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes has lots of seizures in a row has breathing problems or has seriously injured themselves The number and type of seizures your child is having may change over time. But some children do outgrow their epilepsy by their mid to late teens. According to the Epilepsy Society this is called "spontaneous remission". There is currently no cure for epilepsy, but treatment can help most children with epilepsy have fewer seizures or stop having seizures completely. medicines called anti-epileptic drugs – these are the main treatment surgery to remove a small part of the brain that's causing the seizures a procedure to put a small electrical device inside the body that can help control seizures a special diet (ketogenic diet) that can help control seizures In very rare cases when medication does not help, and scans indicate a structural brain abnormality is the cause, surgery may be suggested. Read more about epilepsy: First UK child to have epilepsy device fitted in his brain has huge reduction in seizures (Independent, 2-min read) I had a seizure minutes before my final exams at uni (Yahoo Life UK, 11-min read) Epilepsy myths debunked as study reveals most Brits still believe misconceptions about the condition (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Seven things to know about epilepsy in children as new drug rolled out
Children in England living with a rare and severe form of epilepsy could soon benefit from a new drug being rolled out on the NHS. Fenfluramine has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for patients aged two and over with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS). LGS is a rare and severe form of epilepsy that starts in early childhood and is resistant to many treatments. It is thought that around 1-2% of the 60,000 children in England with epilepsy have LGS. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The drug, the first non-cannabis-based treatment approved for this form of epilepsy, is taken as an oral liquid medicine daily and works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain to reduce seizures. Lisa Suchet, whose 10-year-old son has LGS, says the drug offers her son hope of "seizure freedom". "My son has suffered with seizures since he was five weeks of age, including drop seizures, which are the most devastating," she said. "They occur without warning, cause immediate collapse and the risk of head injury is high due to the sudden fall." Suchet says until now there have been so few effective drugs for seizure control. "Many don't work for all patients; many have debilitating side effects or interactions with other meds a patient might have to take," she explains. "That there is another option now available, which has shown effective results and minimal side effects is a huge comfort. It is essentially providing a chance of seizure freedom, which is essentially another chance at life really; for the patient and the family or carers who are impacted so significantly by this awful disease." Epilepsy is a neurological condition (affecting the brain and nervous system) where a person has a tendency to have seizures that start as a disruption of signals in the brain. Some children stop having seizures after a period of being on treatment, others, however, need treatment for long periods. The condition is more common than many people realise, with around one child in every 200 living with epilepsy. The NHS says that while there is sometimes a clear reason for epilepsy developing, for example a severe blow to the head, an infection of the brain such as meningitis, or brain damage due to lack of oxygen during a difficult birth, in other cases it isn't obvious. It's possible a child's epilepsy could be partly caused by their genes affecting how their brain works, as the NHS estimates around one in three people with epilepsy have a family member with it. Seizures are caused by a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain, which temporarily disrupts the way messages are passed between brain cells. There are a number of different types of epileptic seizure, but the type a child has depends on which part of their brain is affected by the condition. The Epilepsy Society says there are two main types of seizure: focal seizures and generalised seizures. "Focal seizures start in only one side of the brain and generalised seizures affect both sides of the brain," the charity explains. "Generally, adults and children have the same types of seizure. However, some may be more common in childhood (for example, absence seizures which can be very brief and are often mistaken for 'daydreaming' or not paying attention)." The kind of symptoms a child experiences during a seizure can include: jerking of the body repetitive movements unusual sensations such as a strange taste in the mouth or a strange smell, or a rising feeling in the stomach. In some types of seizure, a child may be aware of what is happening. In other types, a child will be unconscious and have no memory of what happened afterwards. Some children may have seizures when they are sleeping (sometimes called "asleep" or 'nocturnal' seizures). The Epilepsy Society says some children's seizures can occur in response to triggers such as stress, excitement, boredom, missed medication, or lack of sleep. The charity recommends keeping a diary of your child's seizures, which can help to see if there are any patterns to when they happen and what may have triggered them. If a child experiences a tonic-clonic seizure (when their body goes stiff and the type of seizures most people associate with epilepsy) the Great Ormond Street Hospital recommends not trying to stop it. "Instead, move any furniture out of the way, try to loosen any tight clothing around the neck and stay with the child until the seizure has finished," the site explains. "As soon as uncontrolled movements finish, lay the child on their side in the recovery position." If a child has another type of seizure, it is recommended you sit them down quietly and stay with them until they are fully recovered and alert. Reassure the child calmly. The NHS recommends calling 999 for an ambulance if your child: is having a seizure for the first time has a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes has lots of seizures in a row has breathing problems or has seriously injured themselves The number and type of seizures your child is having may change over time. But some children do outgrow their epilepsy by their mid to late teens. According to the Epilepsy Society this is called "spontaneous remission". There is currently no cure for epilepsy, but treatment can help most children with epilepsy have fewer seizures or stop having seizures completely. medicines called anti-epileptic drugs – these are the main treatment surgery to remove a small part of the brain that's causing the seizures a procedure to put a small electrical device inside the body that can help control seizures a special diet (ketogenic diet) that can help control seizures In very rare cases when medication does not help, and scans indicate a structural brain abnormality is the cause, surgery may be suggested. Read more about epilepsy: First UK child to have epilepsy device fitted in his brain has huge reduction in seizures (Independent, 2-min read) I had a seizure minutes before my final exams at uni (Yahoo Life UK, 11-min read) Epilepsy myths debunked as study reveals most Brits still believe misconceptions about the condition (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
