From Poirot to St Peter: David Suchet on new documentary

David Suchet was quite taken aback by the devotion of fans. The actor, who has generated an immense global following thanks to his peerless performance as Hercule Poirot, recalls, 

“I was in Long Day’s Journey Into Night in the West End, and fans flew in from Japan, Australia and the US to see it. It was amazing.

“Every night it was like a map of the world at the stage door. One night, two fans came all the way from Russia to see me in the play.

They sat through three-and-a-half hours – and they didn’t even speak English. It was quite extraordinary.”

David’s legions of fans across the globe will be delighted he has a new show to offer them. In his documentary, In The Footsteps Of St Peter, which goes out on BBC1 on Good Friday, he travels from Jerusalem to Rome in a quest to uncover the character of Jesus’ most trusted apostle. 

The actor emphasises the vital role Peter continues to play in the church. “In the gospels, Peter is seen as the number one apostle,” David says.

“He has a very close relationship with Jesus that gives him supremacy. Jesus speaks to Peter directly more than any of the other 11.

Also, Peter is the first apostle to whom Jesus appears after the resurrection.”  

David says Peter has an enduring significance because he is the disciple with whom people most easily identify.

“Peter is still important to us because he has this marvellous fallibility,” he says.

“Here is a man with so much faith in God, who is constantly allowed to fail while still trying to do his best.

That is a great comfort for all of us. We can try to be perfect but Peter shows us that, as human beings, that’s just not possible.”

David, who has also starred in The Way We Live Now and Blott On The Landscape and TV movie Going Postal, has had a splendid time making In The Footsteps Of St Peter. He says the reason he has enjoyed presenting the documentary so much is because it tells a very recognisable human tale. 

“I’m not making this film because I’m a Christian, but because it’s a wonderful human story,” he says.

“Peter went from the lowest of the low to become the first pope. It’s an extraordinary journey and quite unique.”

The 68 year old, who fronted In The Footsteps Of St Paul three years ago, and David Suchet On The Orient Express in 2010, is an accomplished documentary presenter. 

In 2008 he scooped an International Emmy Award for Best Actor for his performance as tycoon Robert Maxwell in TV film Maxwell and says that when fronting documentaries he is able to use the talents he uses in his ‘day job’. 

“Acting helps when it comes to presenting documentaries,” he explains. “I draw on my communication skills and my understanding of people. I’m able to look into the lives of other people. That’s what I do.”

In the new West End production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance Of Being Earnest, David is returning to the stage in a surprising part – the formidable Lady Bracknell.

“Lady Bracknell is one of the greatest roles in the English language, but I never expected to be playing her,” he says. 

“The director simply asked me, ‘Do you want to play her?’ And I replied, ‘Why not? Let’s have a go’.”

David’s last appearance as Agatha Christie’s Poirot aired two years ago.

In Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case, the matchless detective sadly breathed his last and while the actor admits he misses “the dear man” he has no regrets about bidding farewell to the much-loved Belgian sleuth.

“A lot of fans have said they will never watch the final episode because they don’t want to see Poirot die, and that touches me very much,” he says.

David, who has been married to Sheila for 39 years and has two grown-up children, is in his 46th year as an actor. So what would be his advice for actors starting out today? 

“Forget about stardom and money,” he says. “You’re simply there to play a part and serve the writer. Only work on roles you feel passionate about.”

Such wisdom has certainly stood him in good stead.

In the Footsteps of St Peter, Good Friday, 9am, BBC1