David Suchet arrived finally at Windsor Castle on Tuesday for the knighthood investiture ceremony. He had been forced to miss it due to his positive COVID-19 testing.
As he was escorted out by Sheila Ferris with his wife, the 75-year-old actor looked stylish as he entered for his investiture. He will be recognized for his contributions to charity and drama.
Poirot’s star was dressed in a black morning suit with pink patterned tie, and Sheila dazzled in a pink jacket, black top, and velvet skirt.
Finally! David Suchet arrived finally at Windsor Castle on Tuesday for the knighthood investiture ceremony. He had been forced to miss it due to a positive COVID-19 Test (above, with Sheila Ferris).
The outing comes after Sir David revealed on Twitter last month that he had tested positive for COVID-19 with a lateral flow test in a now-deleted tweet.
He said he was going to take a PCR testing on Wednesday, 15 December – the date of his initial investiture – in order to verify the results.
He wrote: ‘I have sad news. This evening, I was positive for Covid after a lateral flow testing. So no investiture for me at Windsor Castle tomorrow. In the morning, I will be taking a PCR test.
Later, he tweeted that he had received many kind messages regarding COVID symptoms and the fact that a K investiture was missing. We will soon be able to arrange a date.
Arise, Sir David: The iconic actor, 75, looked dapper for his investiture, where he will be recognised for services to drama and charity
‘Hi everyone. Thank you so much for all your kind words. The symptoms of Covid have not been severe in my case. Still isolating til 23rd. Sheila til 25th. Our luck has been good. But being cautious. “I beg all others to do the same.
David is one of Britain’s most beloved actors and is best known for playing the moustachioed detective Hercule Poirot in the TV series Agatha Christie’s Poirot.
Sir David was excited to receive his knighthood ahead of the original date. He had collected a suit in preparation for this event.
His December tweet read: “Well! Just picked up my morning suit to wear tomorrow at Windsor Castle for my Knighthood investiture! It’s still a dream, I think!
Following a long career that spanned more than fifty years, his knighthood was announced as part of Queen’s Birthday Honours in October 2020.
He was born in London, 1946. At 16 he joined National Youth Theatre and then trained at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Legendary: David, one of Britain’s most loved actors is known best for his role as Hercule Poirot, the moustachioed detective in Agatha Christie’s Poirot. (Photo taken in 2013).
Devastating: The outing comes after Sir David revealed on Twitter last month that he had tested positive for COVID-19
Before appearing as Poirot in ITV’s 1989 mini-series Freud, Sigmund Freud was portrayed by him in the BBC series Freud. He received worldwide acclaim for his portrayal of the character and continued to reprise the role in more than 70 episodes up until 2013.
Many consider his interpretation of Belgian super-sleuth to be the most definitive. He mentions in his book Poirot And Me that Sir Peter Ustinov (also famously playing the detective) once said to him that he was good at the job.
In 2011, Sir David was awarded a CBE for his services to drama.
Last month David said he believes he ‘might be too old now’ to play iconic detective Poirot again.
Suchet has ruled out the possibility that she would be recast in an interview on This Morning.
He said: ‘I have to say, I don’t know because of my age whether I might be too old now. I could be lured by the silver screen if it did happen.
Image: David and Halle Berry are pictured in Executive Decision 1996.
Kenneth Branagh was Poirot in 2017’s star-studded film adaptation of Murder On The Orient Express.
David was approached by Agatha Christie trustees Rosalind Hicks (son-in-law) and Anthony Hicks (daughter).
He had been seen as Sigmund Freud on a mini-series of TV, the blackmailer Blott in a Tom Sharpe comedy and Inspector Japp in Thirteen at Dinner in Poirot.
Also, the star revealed that he never received a long-term contract. These were filmed in 1988, and my contract ended there.
“After that I thought it was over. Many people are shocked to learn that I did not have a running contract for 25 years.
“I didn’t know when I would be back.” The audience, money and advertising figures were all important.
‘In retrospect, I’m grateful for it because it allowed me to go into the theatre and play many wonderful roles which I probably wouldn’t have been able to on a 25-year contract on television.
‘Taking over the role wasn’t the problem, it was the nature of the role. I found myself introduced to a little man I’d never seen played before on screen. It was me who played the part of Dame Agatha Christie.
Star: Geraldine and David were pictured in 1998’s “Seesaw.”
Actor: David played Dr Fagan with Jack Whitehall at 2017’s Decline and Fall
Oppenheimer’s star stated that he values time spent with his loved ones more than acting due to his age.
He said: ‘I don’t know what parts there are available for me at the moment. I’m talking a lot of time out and spending much more time with my family now that I’ve reached a certain age. I’m not sure I’m ready for a long West End run anymore.’
His last film role was in 2018’s Dinner with Edward and his most recent TV role was in 2019’s His Dark Material’s as the voice of Kaisa.
Suchet has now begun his one-man show, David Suchet – Poirot And More, A Retrospective, at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre – which will run until January 22.
He said: ‘It’s been a terrible time and people have missed coming to the theatre and I want to welcome them back, not to a serious play but to a fun evening.
When asked about his first career options before he entered the drama world, he stated that ‘I wanted a doctor. My father was a surgeon and I realised I didn’t have the science knowledge for that.
‘Then I wanted to be a documentary filmmaker. I was at the National Youth Theatre that day, when something occurred that made it clear that this is where I want to live my entire life.
Last year, David revealed that filming Poirot’s death for his final episode in 2013 was one of the most emotional days of his life.
Speaking to Radio Times he said: ‘My saddest day as an actor was filming Poirot’s death. I miss him in my life because… I’ve lost my best friend.’
He revealed to the actor that his final goodbye to long-term character was so difficult that he requested that the scene that ended with the detective’s murder not be the last he would shoot.
David stated that losing your true family can be painful. However, my saddest day was shooting Poirot’s funeral.
‘I miss him in my life because he was my life for 25 years and I’ve lost my best friend.’
Headhunted: David was approached to play Poirot in the late Eighties, by the trustees of Agatha Christie’s estate – her daughter Rosalind and son-in-law Anthony Hicks (pictured 2010 in The Clocks)