That Mitchell and Webb Look - Poirot

[@Wolfencreek]

"Yes, once again I have no evidence. It has been a hell of a week"

[@oosakasan]

Watching Poirot episodes lately it became striking to me how often the traditional "reveal the murderer" scene is *explicitly* framed as a last-ditch attempt to get a confession because although Poirot thinks he's deduced the culprit, he has no actual evidence! I somehow never pinged that when I was younger. I thought it was how normal investigations happen or something lol.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@oosakasan I think shows like that make most people assume that’s how police work happens. Which is distressing as that “Well I think they did it, so…” is why so many people get wrongfully accused and convicted. It’s almost like the concept of evidence exists for a reason!

[@Feuerspray31]

@@oosakasan I imagine that this is how a lot of detective work was done pre CSI/DNA etc. Investigators actually had to think and piece together evidence. Nowadays its all cameras, web tracking and DNA.

[@mathewfinch]

@@DeathnoteBB in fairness, that isn't that far off. most police investigation is just: 1. Show Up 2. Ask- "Is it entirely obvious who did this" 3. If the answer is no, catalogue everything, file it away and hope that something matches something in a database somewhere or someday.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@mathewfinch Not really, usually they ask witnesses and/or just get the easiest suspect and book them

[@ricardocantoral7672]

"The Evil Voice" One of my favorite Poirot tropes. The character in question drops his or her voice an octave and then they gleefully express how much they enjoyed doing their evil thing.

[@TheThreatenedSwan]

But it's usually only done by people who already have an affect, and realistically the average characters change as they become more comfortable

[@MrLTiger]

this is how I imagined the monologues when I read the poirot books

[@namelessghoulette9303]

That or they say "you're delusional, it wasn't me" then proceed to go into a monologue outing themselves as the culprit a minute later.

[@stoutyyyy]

Honestly, Mitchell would be an amazing Poirot

[@longleaf9943]

Hate you pic.

[@Dim4323]

On a Stage

[@Hithere-ek4qt]

Honestly not. No one compares with David Suchet

[@josh2Sides2]

I think as a young one, I'd watch him do the role on film too

[@Feuerspray31]

@@Hithere-ek4qt That's true. He will never be matched.

[@shannonpincombe8485]

"It is better zis way. Some courts, they do not accept 'the evil voice' as evidence"....hahahahahahahahaha! So good.

[@Feuerspray31]

A murderer committing suicide is a self correcting problem for sure.

[@drhibas]

Mitchell brilliance I wager

[@amoral_minority]

I mean she did confess, so I don't see why not

[@ImperativeGames]

Some courts are dumb ^^

[@thebradester]

As a lover of the Suchet Poirot series, I can say this is pretty spot on. :)

[@thorsbitch]

"And she has become sexier.." *In the back, behind all the laughter as shes revealed, a muted YES can be heard*

[@KaathariaRandall]

'Yea!' Hahahah

[@Shannmeister]

Amandus Emanuelsson You are to be applauded for your attention to detail. :)

[@JohnWestIV]

Now we know

[@spider5600]

That was probably the Director who had the wrong type of raise in mind

[@gymonstarfunkle136]

+John West IV oh we definitely know now...

[@an1m8r]

In hindsight, I love that the other three witnesses don't care one bit. They're used to this somehow.

[@RAFMnBgaming]

Oh god I didn't notice the guy just sleeping in the chair up fron. That's hilarious.

[@Richard_is_cool]

Maybe they did multiple takes.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@Richard_is_cool The witnesses as characters did multiple takes?

[@daveroche6522]

One of their best sketches (and that's high praise). Thank you.

[@Alopex1]

The acting here, especially by Mitchell and Hadland, is simply stellar... Great clip :)

[@sharky582]

2:22 Freddie's laugh might be the best evil laughter I ever heard

[@commandercors]

Watched Death on the Nile and was obviously compelled to come back to this sketch

[@cmreap]

Under the Lend-Lease treaty, Americans can never be murderers in British novels.

[@michellesheppard9253]

**cough** Murder on the Orient Express **cough**

[@nathananderson8928]

@@michellesheppard9253 Ah, zat was in Belgrade Monsieur...

[@SandwichCult]

He's pretty good at impersonating David Suchet, especially when he says "You know it is the murderer!!!" :D

[@IoEstasCedonta]

I love that no one even mentions that she confessed.

[@Nullifidian]

I've been watching the ITV Poirot episodes to catch up before this final season, and this sketch has ruined them for me. Every time I hear one of the characters doing the "the evil voice" I can't help but laugh. Sadly, none of the female murderers' tits get any bigger in the other Poirots -- it's the one serious fault in the adaptations.

[@WaveyDavey645]

If only courts in Phoenix Wright accepted the evil voice as evidence, most trials would be at least 4 cross-examinations shorter.

[@awkwardcultism]

What version of Phoenix Wright are you playing where the characters have voices? We all know those games are set in an alternative universe where humans communicate by making Mr. Game and Watch noises at each other.

[@emiledlund9559]

@@awkwardcultism yeah but the villains do haughty, evil game and watch noises

[@philjamieson5572]

They were totally unique. I'm still laughing my t*ts off, even though I've seen the sketch several times.

[@nemo6686]

Did they just get bigger before you laughed them off?

[@KaosuVolt]

Thats right, I liked this vid. And Id do it again damn you! *takes a puff from his evil cigarette*

[@darkprose]

"...and her hair is going evil."

[@Snovyda27]

I love them and I love Poirot! Great sketch!

[@joelwagg8314]

The accent at the end completely slips, and he sounds like his 'Gentle Scotsman' impression, which really just adds to the scene for me.

[@AlexanderWernerJr]

"Some courts zey do not accept ze evil voice as evidence....." LOL!

[@Kjakings]

I have been watching Ludwig starring David Mitchell and the conclusion of EVERY EPISODE has me thinking about this

[@AdeonHawkwood]

I had exactly the same thought on watching Ludwig.

[@hnccox]

"It is better this way. Some courts, they do not accept the evil voice as evidence."

[@EaglePicking]

Zis way, Zey do, Ze evil voice ;)

[@arturdent5168]

we need to change the laws where the evil voice is permissible in courtd

[@paulveitch]

Is that you Pritti?

[@Ceroar]

I recently started watching Poirot and binged the first three seasons. I was really enjoying it and then it was like a switch went in my head and I realised every episode was exactly the same and THIS is a pretty accurate representation 🤣

[@AColonDashSix]

No, no, too late. We all heard you do the evil voice.

[@whowantsabighug]

James looks quite good in that silly period costume.

[@Richard_is_cool]

Massive yacht.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

James... Man who barks... bark of dog. Tree of sweet, tender leaves. Let them not be sullied by the man of coal woman.

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

I just watched Evil Under The Sun, & have seen the first two Branaghs & all of Suchet, & this is so accurate it tickles the little grey cells.

[@Merlincat007]

How have I never seen this one? It's gotta be one of my favorites now!

[@11nytram11]

"Yes, once again I had no evidence..." very true of Hercule Poroit

[@JohnSmith2522001]

Funny how Poirot actually confirmed once i think that this is basically how it works

[@TheBc99]

David Mitchell rivals David Suchet in this portrayal. And Webb wouldn't make a bad Hastings!

[@breakingthemasks]

Benjamin Rome Clarke ...blasphemy! but, yeah.

[@zander1011011]

He was way better than Ewan McGregor

[@theQuestion626]

+Alex Ewan McGregor played Hercule Poirot? I think you might mean sir Kenneth Branagh. And he was amazing.

[@typacsk]

I'd watch a feature-length film with that premise...although I worry that that stupid "Holmes and Watson" movie may have poisoned the well.

[@Hithere-ek4qt]

Oh please, You can’t be serious.

[@bygon432]

He sounds exactly like Eddie Izzard at 1:24. In fact this entire sketch feels like an Eddie Izzard routine.

[@minbari73]

Eddie could have been the one doing the evil voice.

[@pyro3366films]

I was watching Castle and laughed my as off when a suspect started doing a evil voice

[@NicolaKaye]

This is excellent, David could easily do Poirot. ha ha. Love the evil hair remark as well. If someone said my hair was 'going evil" I'd take it as a compliment and then erm shoot myself before the police showed up! 😄

[@GamerPony]

Should have casted HIM in the new movie

[@Bigolddragon]

Nicola Coxon it is of the most regretful that I must inform you that you are smoking a cigarette out of an evil cigarette holder

[@cmolodiets]

David???? Suchet?

[@NicolaKaye]

@@cmolodiets I meant David Mitchell could play Poirot but since it’s Suchet’s Poirot that I know best I guess they’d have to job share 😄

[@carlossaroufim]

Brilliantly comical.

[@joshuachandler1750]

David Mitchell sounded like he was from Allo Allo

[@fds7476]

Oh shut up, you stupid woman!

[@-JustHuman-]

"I was pissing by the door, when I heard two shats. You are holding in your hand a smoking goon; you are clearly the guilty potty."

[@Azdaja13]

THE EVIL VOICE!!!!! it never fails trust me. when suchet quits poirot, i think we've found his replacement :D

[@NikoMikkanen]

Watching Suchet's Poirot and just had to pause it for a moment to re-watch this.

[@kittgs]

This is basically every episode of Ludwig (starring David Mitchell). I do love it though.

[@KelleyEngineering]

From "The two shades of lipstick were identical", I knew it was gonna be a great sketch

[@blackbird5634]

"Yes I did do that massive poo in your en suite!" -Classic!!

[@Lukkilikka]

That was sort of the point of this sketch; Poirot usually has no real evidence, and the plot relies on the murderer confessing. If it actually went to court, he'd have nothing more than what he has in this sketch to support his case.

[@hugheswho]

Kenneth Branagh's template for Death on the Nile.

[@Bigqwertyuo1]

"Some courts do not accept ze evil voice as evidence"

[@Cheeseanonioncrisps]

I love that the Evil Voice and Evil Cigarette Holder are the things being held up as indisputable evidence that she committed the crime, rather than the fact that she just confessed in front of multiple witnesses.

[@nkt1]

I don’t suppose this confession would count for much either, since she isn’t being interview by the police, under caution.

[@ziggypop8106]

I miss Mitchell and Webb

[@polybian_bicycle]

2:24 lol, I love the little cigarette holder! Such attention to detail.

[@ronvlaarsvar6867]

I like the thought he has spent a week in this (presumably) country estate with this people investigating but still had no clue who the murder was

[@Jcolinsol]

I really want James Bachman's suit from this sketch. So classy.

[@ObscureRP]

"Eet 'as been a 'ell of a week" 😄

[@orsonkaart1853]

Excellent!

[@FrankieParadiso4evah]

David Mitchell sounds miles more convincing as the Belgian detective Poirot than that unspeakable awful ham with the ludicrous moustache in Murder on the Orient Express who always thinks he can out-Olivier Sir Larry.

[@brianlynch996]

Frankie Paradiso - it was a better mustache than Suchet ever had. That shrimpy little thing was the only flaw in his portrayal.

[@TheWickedWizardOfOz1]

I really like Branagh's Orient Express. Not because it's a good Poirot movie or even a good movie in general, but rather because I see it as a parody of modern blockbuster films that must needs fit DRAAAAAMAAAAATIIIIIIC action scenes into stories that have no place for them. It's self-aware and mocking the system that spawned it, whereas something like Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes is unaware of how it has nothing to do with Holmes and everything to do with superhero movies.

[@internethardcase]

Funny how they all end up confessing instead of demanding a lawyer.

[@toastehh09]

Some courts, zey do not accept ze evil voice as evidence...

[@jackwood8307]

Spot on!

[@Forscythe80]

Ferrel and that other fellow did Holmes and Watson. Mitchell and Webb would make an awesome Poirot and Hastings movie.

[@jaybestnz]

Mitchell would be amazing as Poirot for real.. 😂

[@nigelbenn4642]

Lipstick? Cigarette case? Just about the plot of most Christie's plots.

[@BeefotronX]

Spoiler alert: somebody does the evil voice at the end of Death on the Nile

[@renjithjoseph7135]

Evil voice, kiss, suicide. Nearly pissed myself laughing in the cinemas

[@cmilla111]

@@renjithjoseph7135 And I swear she even somehow got sexier while doing it.

[@peterdavies2960]

If I did a comedic Agatha Christie sketch I’d play Miss Marple in drag 😂

[@gotmilk5899]

I was so distracted by the evil voice that I didn’t even realize she actually confessed

[@Allothernamesrgone]

What would Poirot do if the murderer didn't confess? Pretty much all of them would get off if they didn't agree it was them who did it.

[@theylivewesleep.5139]

And therefore it is clear you did zhe murder! No I didn’t.

[@BrothersWeird]

I remember when we were talking about Poirot...

[@piotrgajda2350]

I recently watched the three Kenneth Brannagh Poirot movies and I have to say, this is spot on. He constantly accuses everyone until someone confesses, and shortly after tries to commit suicide.

[@BugsyMojo]

Great literary point.

[@bareakon]

Hot dang I want that dress.

[@GreenElixir]

Mitchell does a very good Poirot :)

[@queenbeekeeper]

I must try out The Evil Voice in conversations just to see what effect it has. Alas, I don't think my cleavage will expand at the same time.

[@ednuttah]

1:01 Briliant!

[@agnosticnixie]

France exchanged Silesia, Lorraine and the restoration of Bourbon power in Italy for the reestablishment of Habsburg power in Germany. The war was effectively a draw in which the french squandered enormous advantages for the sake of strengthening Prussia.

[@Georgieastra]

That's exactly what I was going to say!

[@craigthomasbrown]

@lJAMEZl That's the Cheesoid sketch. Love that one.

[@badgerguy6099]

Yeah, pretty much every time Poirot, and often Sherlock holmes, does the famous drawing room scene of gathering all the suspects and ultimately accusing one of them, the evidence they confront the suspect with would inevitably never hold up as sufficient to any jury out there. Heck, a lot of times when confronted with such minimal evidence the crown would likely often withhold even filing charges. It's only when the suspect breaks down in the face of this minimal and circumstantial evidence and confesses that they've sealed their fate.

[@midianholic]

Yeah, 80 years ago. What a shock.

[@NickJohnCoop]

“Have her tits just got bigger?” Perfect,although I don’t think he needed to do the evil voice over using Poirot’s bathroom.

[@BlastbeatsLOL]

Mate what? That was the best part.

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

i could actually see him playing the part

[@shahree100]

Unravelled poor Poirot’s complete modus operandi.

[@ReasonablyPliant]

Monsieur 'Poiron' haha.

[@tashiwangdu4747]

@1:03 reminds me of every kung fu english dubbed movie !!!

[@garfreeek]

wow i thought they had just used clips of past episodes for that voice ^_^ (untill the ultimate evidence of course xD)

[@perryuppal]

Because you don't have to blindly watch something to say you like it. That's like you saying "Well it's flawed, so I can't like it". I can listen to music, point out the flaws in it and still enjoy it.

[@Torthrodhel]

Good lord! But I thought Japp had it pegged as an open-and-shut case?

[@StigGT2]

I always know I have got zem when zey do zee evil voice.

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

Britain's contribution to World Comedy . . . toilet humour. :P

[@ludiekmagick]

Once, I attended the conclusion of a murder investigation and they served both Criminal Damage Lager and actual evidence. I was most affronted. The host received the most elegant note of gratitude and the cold shoulder thereafter.

[@Bigqwertyuo1]

Anyone notce how her neckline drops at 1:25 onwards?

[@lilydovebird7479]

Ah, David Mitch- wait. Or... David Suchet?

[@Aussiechick111The]

"she's doing the evil voice!" LOL!!

[@Brian88X]

When I was a Kid I thought Poirot was pronounced Pirate.

[@HumanMonolith]

What about Dr. Bessner from Death on the Nile?

[@Nerpha]

Columbo clearly studied poirots method carefuly lol

[@bareakon]

unfortunately the evil voice doesn't stand up in court

[@playingforbritain]

That guy in Murder on the Orient Express was a murderer, outside of the main plot at least...

[@notreallydavid]

1:27 - ooh

[@Bigqwertyuo1]

@JacobsteinIX The most obvious things are usually mentioned at some point, so I was suprised and decided to check.

[@faeriebility]

I found that annoying and one of Christie's faults. In the cases that the American wasn't suspicious, cocky, and dislikable, they were unbelievably good-natured (if obnoxiously loud), handsome (if young), and rich. Still, we can't forget that Christie, for all her traveling, relied heavily upon stereotypes: all Eastern Europeans were exotic royalty, Germans were never to be trusted, Italians were all in the mafia, Jews were miserly businessmen, and let's not forget all the majors/colonels/etc..

[@nathanjora7627]

British aren't near as perfidious as they would be if Christie was writing realistically.

[@sugarnads]

Well its true you cant trust the bloody germans. And the REASON theres lots of majors and colonels is derr WW1 had just ended. And she was writing mainly about the upper echelons of society which os also why you cant trust bloody germans.

[@deviousmile669]

well, 3 out of the 4 stereotypes that you put in are ...kinda true or at least believable, and especially for the period of agatha life you could say all 4: for context WW! just finnished so it was normal to not trust the germans to travel in those days you need a lot of money and more importantly time that you can spend not working so nobility for the eastern europe and mafia for the italians (since at the time was the peak of the mafia and the last days of nobility) as for the jews a lot of them were businessmen. do not judge her with today standard where everyone can go on vacation in europe with a 40 euros ticket

[@KawaiiKoshka]

Actually, if you go back, not once did I say English. I said England, yes, but that's apparently different. So that entire argument up there is void. Your turn.

[@lkrnpk]

yes, comrade, in our country of a Kazahstand zey would all be put in prisons and make pain to zeir bodies to confess

[@GetToDaChoppa-k5r]

Poirot is good, but he never as evidence ha ha