Five more Poirot movies for Suchet

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LONDON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- David Suchet, who has played Agatha Christie's Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in 65 movies over 22 years, is to star in five more Poirot mysteries, ITV said.

The films air on ITV in the United Kingdom and on PBS in the United States under the network's "Masterpiece" banner.

Production on the last Poirot movies -- "Curtain," "Labors of Hercules," "Dead Man's Folly," "The Big Four" and "Elephants Can Remember" -- is to begin next year, the BBC reported.

"I'm more than delighted to be reprising my role as Poirot. It's been my life's ambition to bring this amazing canon of works to completion," Suchet said. "Poirot is a brilliant, yet profoundly complicated character and I've always loved playing him. He's considerate, with a love of elegance and precision, but he is also so maddeningly frustrating to play as he's so vain and pedantic! For all his faults he is one of the greatest listeners in literature. I've been so fortunate to play him."

ITV's Michele Buck added: "We can promise the final five Poirot films will be a fitting tribute to a much-loved literary character. When the ending comes it'll be very dramatic and incredibly emotional. We've been on a remarkable journey with Poirot."