Agatha Christie’s Real Life Inspirations | Agatha Christie’s England | Channel 5

Agatha Christie’s England, Channel 5, review: An evocative film almost as good as one of the author’s capers

 

With suitably plummy narration by Downton Abbey’s Samantha Bond, this documentary was a thoroughly enjoyable travelogue through the author’s life

 

By Ed Power

July 6, 2021 10:00 pm

https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/agatha-christies-england-channel-5-review-documentary-1089827

 

In her murder mysteries Agatha Christie celebrated a romanticised England that was passing into history before her eyes. That Narnia of postcard-pretty villages, seedcake from a silver tray and murder in the shires was eulogised in agreeably wistful fashion in Agatha Christie’s England.

 

With suitably plummy narration by Downton Abbey’s Samantha Bond, the film traced the writer’s life from her privileged upbringing in Edwardian Torquay. From there, it proceeded to her childhood visits to Ealing and her unhappy first marriage in “stifling” suburban Sunningdale.

 

In Ealing, Christie’s imposing great aunt Margaret provided inspiration for the snoopy Miss Marple. Agatha’s aunt was warm-hearted and outgoing – but, just like Christie’s sleuth, always saw the worst in people.

 

From a young age Christie had consumed sensational newspaper reports of murder and betrayal. There was betrayal in her own life, too. Having swept Agatha off her feet, dashing husband Archie was soon spending all his spare time at the golf course – and with a mistress.

 

One theory is that Christie may have considered taking her own life because of the condition of her marriage. “When she drove out into the night… she was in a state of utter despair,” said her biographer Laura Thompson.

 

Christie lived from 1890 until 1976 – a span that stretched from the Victorian era to the dawn of punk rock. She yearned for the England of her youth and made her readers nostalgic for it, too.

 

“The England of Agatha Christie still exists as much as it did when she wrote about it,” said Christie scholar JC Bernthal.

 

“It’s in the pages of her books and in your mind when you read it.”

 

The programme was a hugely evocative travelogue that brought to life a “traditional England of servants, retired colonels and the wireless”. The best compliment that can be paid is that, as soon as the credits rolled, viewers will have wanted to pick up one of Christie’s capers and dive in.