BBC’s latest Agatha Christie adaptation has received backlash from viewers due to what they felt was “woke” casting for a period drama.
People took to X to vent about their disappointment in the murder mystery. “Thought I’d give the new BBC drama a shot this evening. Towards Zero. Set in the 20s/30s? An awful lot of wokery on display from the start,” one commented.
“The new BBC drama called ‘Towards Zero’ set in Devon in 1944 a black KC in court scene, and an Asian m”lady, it seems BBC are more interested in being ‘woke inclusive’ than being authentic. In case im wrong, how many black KC,s were called to the bar pre 1944??” a second enquired.
In response to another woke statement a third wrote: “I have given up with so many BBC dramas these days…it’s quite good that they play trailers these days because you can tell in seconds how it will go, so save wasting a hour, before having to switch it off.
A fourth suggested: “100%. If people want to make an ‘inclusive’ drama, write it yourself and set it in modern day. It makes no sense at all and is factually / historcally incorrect!”
BBC drama Towards Zero has been accused of being (Image: BBC)
However other viewers defended the show and urged people to simply enjoy the drama.
“#TowardsZero Stop complaining that everything’s woke, whatever that is, so there’s some black actors in it, who cares, it’s the story that matters,” one said.
Meanwhile another wasn’t bothered by the casting but simply wanted more to happen in the show.
“I’m not bothered about period make up and I’m not bothered by black actors playing characters (I’m sure this is what people mean by “woke” here), but I need a bit more to happen. #TowardsZero,” they observed.
Oliver Jackson-Cohen plays Neville Strange in the BBC’s Agatha Christie adaptation Towards Zero (Image: BBC)
The three- part drama is adapted from the 1944 novel of the same name by Queen of Crime Agatha Christie.
The murder mystery surrounds a recently divorced British tennis player holidaying at his aristocratic aunt’s house on the south coast of England in the 1930s.
The star studded cast includes Sex Education’s Mimi Keene, The Haunting of Hill House star Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Hollywood legend Anjelica Huston, The Wires’s Clarke Peters and The Americans Matthew Rhys.
It was filmed in smmer 2024 around Bristol and Devon.
