BBC Maestro Bring the Mystery of Agatha Christie’s Writing Methods to Life

BBC Maestro is making the impossible possible. In a world-first, Agatha Christie - bestselling novelist of all time – will offer aspiring writers an unparalleled opportunity to learn the secrets behind her writing, in her own words.

Using meticulously restored archival interviews, private letters, and writings researched by a team of Agatha Christie experts, this pioneering course reconstructs Agatha’s own voice and insights, guiding students through the art of suspense, plot twists, and unforgettable characters. For the first time, audiences will hear Agatha Christie impart her insights on story structure, cast creation, plot twists, red herrings, and the art of suspense, drawn directly from her own writings and archival interviews.

Bringing Agatha Christie’s presence to life, BBC Maestro has collaborated with a professional actress, Vivien Keene, and expert visual effects artists to create a faithful representation of her voice and likeness. Using AI-enhanced technology, licensed images, and carefully restored audio recordings, this pioneering course captures the essence of Agatha Christie’s presence and voice, complemented by a script created by academics from Agatha's own words and teachings, delivering an experience that feels as though she is speaking directly to the audience.

With over two billion books sold, 66 detective novels, 14 short story collections, and the world’s longest-running play, The Mousetrap, Agatha Christie’s influence on crime fiction is unmatched. ​ The continued demand for adaptations of her work in television and film expresses how timeless her skills of storytelling are.

Now, Agatha Christie’s legendary storytelling techniques are being unlocked for the very first time.

The course has been curated by leading Christie scholars Dr. Mark Aldridge, Michelle Kazmer, Gray Robert Brown, and Jamie Bernthal-Hooker, who have painstakingly reconstructed Agatha’s philosophy on writing, using her own words. With the full support and approval of Agatha Christie’s family, this course offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step into the mind of the Queen of Crime.

James Prichard, Agatha Christie’s great-grandson, chairman and CEO of Agatha Christie Limited, said, “The team of academics and researchers that BBC Maestro has assembled have extracted from a number of her writings an extraordinary array of her views and opinions on how to write. Through this course, you truly will receive a lesson in crafting a masterful mystery, in Agatha’s very own words.”

BBC Maestro chief executive officer Michael Levine said, “As a lifelong fan of Agatha Christie, bringing this course to life has been a dream come true, and I am immensely proud of it. Agatha Christie’s BBC Maestro course on Writing invites anyone and everyone who adores Agatha Christie’s writing to learn through her own words, exactly how she does it; her background, her inspirations, her craft and the lessons she learnt along the way.

“BBC Maestro was established to offer the next generation of talent a way to get started, to learn, not from teachers, but from those who have done it themselves. To be inspired by learning from the greatest. ​ As an 11-year-old boy reading “Why Didn’t they Ask Evans?” ​ I could never have imagined that one day, I’d be watching Agatha Christie teaching me how she did it.”

Dr Mark Aldridge, Agatha Christie expert, said, "Embarking on this project was a journey filled with dedication and collaboration. Working closely with fellow scholars and the Christie family, we meticulously pieced together Agatha Christie's own words from her letters, interviews, and writings. Witnessing her insights come to life has been a profoundly moving experience."

Vivien Keene, actor, said, "This role was unlike any other in my 44 years of acting. The process required me to study the few existing clips of Agatha very closely, capturing her subtle mannerisms and expressions. Bringing Agatha’s presence to life was both a privilege and a remarkable experience – one that will stay with me."

Thiago Porto, Visual Effects Artist said, "Recreating Agatha Christie was a fascinating challenge. With only a handful of photographs and no video footage, we had to carefully study every available detail to capture her likeness authentically. Vivien’s performance was the foundation, and through precise craftsmanship and meticulous attention to historical accuracy, we worked to ensure every frame reflected the essence of who she was."

Respeecher, audio specialist, said, "Capturing Agatha Christie's voice was an incredibly detailed process. We started with just a small selection of archival recordings, carefully analysing the unique qualities of her speech—its warmth, rhythm, and character. The voice actress gave a brilliant performance, and our role was to shape and refine the sound, ensuring that every word felt authentic to Agatha herself. It was a painstaking but rewarding process. We hope the result truly honours her legacy."

This ground-breaking initiative is more than just a writing course - it’s a chance to be mentored by the most successful novelist of all time. Whether you’re an aspiring author, a devoted fan, or simply captivated by the art of storytelling, Agatha Christie Writing is set to be an unmissable experience.

Agatha Christie Writing will be available on bbcmaestro.com from 30th April. ​ You can buy an individual course for £79 or access everything with a £120 annual subscription.