Maigret, ITV: cast, locations, and everything you need to know about Maigret’s Dead Man

Rowan Atkinson is back as the French detective
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Ben Travis25 December 2016

If the BBC’s line up of Call the Midwife and EastEnders isn’t your idea of top Christmas viewing, ITV have something different in store.

Fans of detective shows should tune in to Maigret’s Dead Man – a feature-length period mystery that will keep you awake even if you’re stuffed full of Christmas turkey.

Here’s what you need to know.

Rowan Atkinson is back

Many actors have portrayed Jules Maigret over the years – the most famous being Michael Gambon back in the early Nineties.

This is Rowan Atkinson’s second time in the bowler hat, having made his debut earlier this year in Maigret Sets A Trap.

Also starring in Maigret’s Dead Man are Lucy Cohu as Madame Maigret, Shaun Dingwall as Inspector Janvier, and Mark Heap as Doctor Moers.

It was filmed in Budapest

The Parisian setting might look convincing – but the series didn’t actually shoot there for the most part.

Instead, Maigret was filmed in Budapest, Hungary.

“Recreating Paris in the Fifties requires special effects irrespective of where you shoot, but strangely enough, less so in Budapest, where many places are architecturally very similar to Paris, and which is also much less expensive,” says Exectuive Producer John Simenon.

It’s based on Georges Simenon’s novel of the same name

Belgian author Georges Simenon wrote 76 Maigret novels over the years, and Maigret’s Dead Man is the 29th book in the series.

It was first published in 1948 under its original French name Maigret et Son Mort.

The plot sees Maigret receive death threats from anonymous callers, while trying to find the culprits behind several attacks on farm-owning wealthy families.

Christmas TV Highlights 2016 - in pictures

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There’s more Maigret on the way

If you enjoy Atkinson’s take on Maigret, there’s good news – ITV are working on two more adaptations for 2017.

First up will be Night at the Crossroads, based on Simenon’s 1931 novel, and Maigret in Montmartre, adapted from the 1950 book.

ITV, Christmas Day, 9pm

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