Watching the BBC4 Saturday night repeats - I must have watched them several times. My friends Alan and Ken wrote the fantastic theme (a hit again today if someone does it right) and nobody came near to Joan Hickson's brilliant Marple.

I love the Joan Hickson Marples.When you have to switch this insane world off, there is nothing better for an hour or two. I think it was Geraldine McEwan and Julie Mackenzie who later did Marple, but very much division 2 compared with Joan Hickson. Joan IS Miss Marple.

McEwan was dreadful - unwatchable. When you examine them, most of the plots are dreadful but Hickson (and that brilliant music) made them work superbly.

I totally agree about Joan Jickson and the theme tune. They were brilliant. Of the other two, I prefer Julia McKenzie (never liked Geraldine McEwan in the role, perhaps after seeing her as an evil nun in The Magdalene Sisters). But these more recent series look artificial, as if the actors have raided a dressing-up box. The Joan Hickson series seem far more natural. Though she was nothing like the character, I think the Margaret Rutherford films are fun, same with Peter Ustinov as Poirot (but David Suchet was by far the best).

I'm with you on all that Jo (apart from some of your spelling).
I think what I hated most about the "new" Marples was the Producer desire to use "name" actors at the expense of any plots.