Hercule Poirot

Hercule Poirot (UK: /ˈɛərkjuːl ˈpwɑːroʊ/ ^ⓘ, US: /hɜːrˈkjuːl pwɑːˈroʊ/ ^ⓘ) is a fictional Belgian detective created by the English writer Agatha Christie. Poirot is Christie's most famous and longest-running character, appearing in 33 novels, two plays (Black Coffee and Alibi) and 51 short stories published between 1920 and 1975.

Poirot is noted for his distinctive appearance, including his waxed moustache and fastidious dress, as well as for his reliance on logic, psychology, and what he terms his "little grey cells" to solve cases.

The character's biography is developed gradually across Christie's works. He is introduced as a former Belgian police officer living in England as a refugee following the First World War. Poirot is portrayed as dignified, meticulous, and occasionally vain, traits that sometimes serve as comic devices but also reflect his precise and methodical approach to detection. His final appearance is in Curtain: Poirot's Last Case.

Poirot has become one of the most recognisable figures in detective fiction and has been widely adapted in other media. He has been portrayed by numerous actors in film, television, stage, and radio, including David Suchet, John Moffat, Peter Ustinov, and Kenneth Branagh. The character has also appeared in continuation novels authorised by the Christie estate, written by Sophie Hannah from 2014 onwards.