David Suchet returns for new Poirot

David Suchet will celebrate 21 years of playing Hercule Poirot by filming The Clocks, the first of four new shows centred around the Belgian supersleuth.

Phil Daniels will play Inspector Hardcastle, in his first television role since leaving EastEnders.

Also starring in The Clocks are Jaime Winstone, Lesley Sharp and Geoffrey Palmer.

Poirot must determine whether a woman named Sheila Webb (Winstone) is responsible for the murder of a man found stabbed.

Four clocks are also discovered frozen at the time of 13 minutes past four in the room where the body was found.

Suchet said: "After 21 years filming Poirot I am as excited as ever to be returning to the role and very much looking forward to filming with such a wonderful guest cast."

No date has been set yet for when the new episodes will be shown, ITV1 said.

It is thought that they could be broadcast next year.