BBC Maestro, a partner of BBC Studios, has given a powerful indicator of the transformational impact of AI – by resurrecting crime queen Agatha Christie.
Using meticulously restored archival interviews, private letters, and writings researched by a team of Christie experts, BBC Maestro has extracted a comprehensive selection of Christie’s views and opinions on how to write. It has then transformed this into a course that allows users to craft their own murder mystery.
The course reconstructs Christie’s voice and insights, guiding students through the art of suspense, plot twists, and characterisation. For the first time, audiences can hear 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.
BBC Maestro worked 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, the course claims to capture the essence of Christie’s presence and voice, complemented by a script created by academics from Christie’s own words and teachings, delivering an experience that feels as though she is speaking directly to the audience.
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 CEO 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.”
Dr Mark Aldridge, Agatha Christie expert, said: “Embarking on this project was a journey filled with dedication and collaboration. Working with fellow scholars and the Christie family, we pieced together Agatha Christie’s own words. Witnessing her insights come to life has been a profoundly moving experience.”
Vivien Keene, actor, added: “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 detail to capture her likeness authentically. Vivien’s performance was the foundation, and through precise craftsmanship and meticulous attention to 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 honours her legacy.”
Agatha Christie Writing is now available on bbcmaestro.com.
