The Thursday Murder Club, inspired by Richard Osman’s 2020 novel of the same name, is now available on Netflix and there are some significant changes between the two.
The film features a star-studded cast, with Tom Ellis portraying former pro-boxer Jason Ritchie, the son of retired trade unionist Ron Ritchie, played by Pierce Brosnan.
In the plot, Jason is seen training with ice skating professional Vanessa Bauer as he prepares to compete in Dancing on Ice.
However, his training is interrupted when officers Chris Hudson (Daniel Mays) and Donna De Freitas (Naomi Ackie) question him about a murder investigation.
A fan page dedicated to Tom Ellis shared an Instagram video interview where the actor discusses his character’s Dancing on Ice experience with his co-stars.
He confessed that his training was significantly less than what the actual Dancing on Ice competitors undergo.
He said: “I was dreading it, I had to go for several lessons and I was working with some of the people that actually do Dancing on Ice.
“They informed me that normally you do 30 hours of training before you even start doing the recorded bit. I had about five, I think.”
Despite his limited training, Ellis praised the production team for making his performance appear professional. He added: “Thankfully with the wonders of smoke and mirrors it made me look a little bit better than I was.”
Does Tom Ellis’s character Jason Ritchie participate in Dancing on Ice in the original Thursday Murder Club book?
Indeed, Jason’s stint on Dancing on Ice is part of the original source material, but the events following his training deviate significantly in the book.
In the film adaptation, Jason emerges as a prime murder suspect and is apprehended and taken into custody after Chris and Donna trap him in the ice rink changing rooms.
Ron, Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) and Joyce (Celia Imrie) subsequently visit the police station to assist with his bail, where Jason reveals he has an alibi – he was engaged in an affair with Ian Ventham’s (David Tennant) wife.
However, none of these events transpire in the book, where Jason is absolved after Donna and Chris confront him at the ice rink during the Dancing on Ice rehearsal.
The Thursday Murder Club is on Netflix