The club we all want to join

Hit novel The Thursday Murder Club is being released as a film with a starry cast portraying the crime-solving pensioners

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Netflix has gone all out for the film adaptation of Richard Osman’s bestselling novel, The Thursday Murder Club — and with its legendary cast, it's bound to be a hit.

Set in the picturesque Coopers Chase retirement village in Kent, the story follows four sharp-minded pensioners who meet weekly to pore over unsolved crimes. But when a real-life murder falls into their laps, they swap coffees and chit chat for sleuthing.

Leading the charge is Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best. Throughout her career, Helen has played everything from steely assassins to Queen Elizabeth II. Now, she’s playing a woman with a past shrouded in secrecy.

"We can tell she was someone powerful and substantial, but it's all a bit secret,” Helen says. “Was she a high level politician? Was she a high level operative in MI5 or MI6? She never quite talks about it, but we get a sense. She's tough, she's smart and she has witnessed some heavy duty things.”

Joining her is Pierce Brosnan, best known for donning James Bond's tuxedos. He trades spying for laughs to play Ron Ritchie.

“Ron is a stout fellow of good character,” Pierce says. “He doesn’t particularly want to be at Coopers Chase, but there's a time in life when you just have to hang up your spurs.”