Former Doctor Who boss Chris Chibnall reveals why new Agatha Christie drama gender-swapped key character

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The new Netflix series, Agatha Christie‘s Seven Dials, adapts a less famous novel by the renowned mystery writer. It’s a three-part drama created by Chris Chibnall, who previously ran the Doctor Who television show.

The series takes place in 1925 and follows Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent, played by Mia McKenna-Bruce, as she investigates a possible murder. What starts as a harmless prank at a fancy country house party quickly turns deadly, and Bundle takes on the case as an amateur detective.

The series also stars Martin Freeman as Superintendent Battle and Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Caterham, Bundle’s mother. This character was reimagined for the show – in the original story, Lady Caterham is actually Lord Caterham, Bundle’s father.

In a recent interview with TopMob magazine, showrunner Chris Chibnall explained the decision to change the character of Lord Caterham to Lady Caterham in the TV adaptation.

Finding the right actor for the role was difficult. We needed someone who could portray both seriousness and humor, and John Gielgud’s performance was what we aimed for. We decided to reimagine the character as a woman and immediately thought of Helena Bonham Carter, who brought a new energy to it.

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As a critic, I’ve been following Chris Chibnall’s career for a while now. He’s the creative force behind the gripping ITV crime drama Broadchurch, which really put him on the map. More recently, he took the helm of Doctor Who as showrunner, a role he held from 2018 to 2022. It’s a fascinating range – from gritty realism to sci-fi adventure – and I’ve always been curious to see what he’d do next.

He recently shared his thoughts on the latest Doctor Who episode with The TopMob Writers’ Room, and reacted to the surprising ending where Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor transformed into Billie Piper.

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When asked about the recent plot twist and its future implications, Chris Chibnall admitted he had no idea how things would unfold. He explained that he only knew Jodie Whittaker would be appearing in the episode, and that he specifically told Russell T Davies he didn’t want to be told any further details after filming wrapped.

I honestly didn’t want to find out that Jodie was going to become David. But the producers told me I needed to know since I was an executive on that particular episode.

Don’t miss Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the international production company Fremantle. He has a BA degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-01-05 16:38