Meet Edward Bluemel: the star of Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials and the most charming man on television, probably

Bluemel and his Seven Dials co-star, Mia McKenna-Bruce, grace the February issue of Tatler

Oli Kearon

The latest of Bluemel’s lovable losers is Jimmy Thesiger in the upcoming Netflix adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials. He stars alongside Tatler’s February cover star, Mia McKenna Bruce, who plays ‘20s it-girl-turned-detective Lady Brundle Brent. Naturally, the nature of the mystery means he can give very little away, but jokes that the part wasn’t too challenging a transformation. ‘He lives a little bit of a life of luxury. He likes his nice clothes. He’s sort of a directionless posh boy, something that, crazily, I find quite easy to get into character for.’

The hallmarks are there, it’s true. Plummy accent, floppy hair. The kind of effortless repartee of someone who probably spent a lot of time saying ‘banter’ and who your mother would definitely call a ‘cheeky chap’. But Bluemel is far too self-deprecating, far too switched on, and yes, far too charming to fall into any stereotypes. His breakout role came while studying at Taunton School, where his parents taught chemistry and physics. He played a Wild West Pied Piper of Hamelin named Peter Pong, who attracts the town’s children through aroma alone. ‘I’ve lived with this since I was 10,’ he muses, ‘but as I say it aloud to you, it’s a very strange piece of theatre. I’ve been chasing that high ever since.’

Read More

The enduring appeal of Agatha Christie, by a mega fan

From inherited paperbacks to the thrill of fresh screen adaptations like Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials on Netflix, starring Mia McKenna-Bruce, one lifelong Agatha Christie devotee reflects on why the Queen of Crime’s perfectly plotted, deeply comforting mysteries are more appealing than ever

Fortunately, behind the scenes on Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, life was a lot less pungent. Spending the summer in the Cotswolds, the cast filmed at Badminton House, home to ‘I would say a third of period dramas.’ (The seat of the Dukes of Beaufort has played host to Bridgerton, The Gentlemen, Queen Charlotte, and, more distressingly, 28 Days Later.) ‘You start to live the life,’ Bluemel reminisces about filming with his fellow actor, friend, and housemate, Tim Preston. ‘At lunchtime, we were frolicking around in our little beige cricket jumpers, and you could just trick yourself into thinking that it was 1920 and you were a fop with not a care in the world.’