Budding television extras flocked to Cromer today to be part of a new Agatha Christie television drama series.

Eastern Daily Press: North Lodge, Cromer Town Council.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLYNorth Lodge, Cromer Town Council.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2012)

Scores of people from across Norfolk signed up to be involved in Partners in Crime which will be shot in the coastal town.

The six-part series will star comic actor David Walliams and Jessica Raine, who played Jenny Lee in Call the Midwife.

They will play Tommy and Tuppence, husband and wife beekeepers who stumble into a world of murder, undercover agents and Cold War conspiracy in 1950s Britain.

Filming is expected to take place over two weeks this month at the town council's chamber and clerk's office inside the North Lodge building as well as the pier.

Eastern Daily Press: Couple Malcolm English and Jan Hawkins who signed up to be a extra in a new Agatha Christie programme.Couple Malcolm English and Jan Hawkins who signed up to be a extra in a new Agatha Christie programme. (Image: Archant)

Couple Malcolm English, 70, and Jan Hawkins, 57, from High View Park in Cromer, were in the queue outside the town's Methodist Church to sign up.

Mr English, a retired editor, said: 'It is just for fun. I have never done anything like this before and thought it would be as great experience. I also like Agatha Christie books. I haven't done any acting since I left school.'

Ms Hawkins, who works for Norfolk County Council, said: 'It will be nice to do something locally in Cromer. The show is good promotion for Cromer. The town is full of character and lovely area to film in.'

Another couple, Gary and Sandra Grundwald, 55 and 54, from Sharrington, wanted to get involved because it sounded 'fun'.

Wymondham College pupil, Annabel Greig, 17, who is studying A-level drama and theatre studies, was also in the queue with her lawyer father Marc, 51.

Miss Greig, from Trowse, said: 'I am interested in drama and want to do film and media at university. It is something different.'

The extras will play background roles.

Annie Hitchcock, involved in the programme, was 'overwhelmed' by the response for extras.

The BBC One drama will celebrate the 125th anniversary of Agatha Christie's birth and is expected to be aired next year.

Agatha Christie regularly visited Beechwood Hotel in North Walsham from the mid-1930s until 1967 when it had been the home of GPs Peter and Margaret McLeod, who had befriended Christie and her husband at an archaeological dig in part of what is now Iraq.

Are you hosting movie or television filming at a location in north Norfolk? Email sophie.wyllie@archant.co.uk