Suchet reveals how he perfected Poirot's distinct walk

David Suchet has revealed how he went the extra mile to perfect Hercule Poirot's distinctive walk when he first won the role of Agatha Christie's Belgian detective.

He borrowed a technique from the late British film and theatre icon, Sir Laurence Olivier in order to perfect Poirot's "rapid, mincing gait", the 67-year-old actor told the Radio Times.

Suchet, who plays the famous detective for the last time in ITV's Curtain: Poirot's Last Case later this month, told the Radio Times:

Asked whether he had to use the penny trick for the last 24 years, Suchet replied:

Suchet said filming Poirot's final scene was "the hardest day's filming of my career".

The actor has played Agatha Christie's highly perceptive sleuth over 70 episodes, with his final performance taking place on 13 November.