Agatha and Poirot: Partners in Crime

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH best ‘Chris tie’ s books are irresistible page-turners!’

In a unique new documentary, ITV celebrates the queen of crime, Agatha Christie, and her most enduring literary creation, Hercule Poirot. Marking 100 years since the first literary appearance of Christie’s illustrious supersleuth, Agatha & Poirot: Partners in Crime will chart the origins and history of the inimitable Belgian detective and his lasting impact on popular culture. Presented by charismatic actor Richard E Grant, and featuring contributions from family and famous fans, Agatha & Poirot will explore the life and personal experiences of Christie, which inspired the plots, characters and locations of her masterpieces. Richard, 63, tells us more…

Hi, Richard! Why do you reckon Agatha’s crime books are so popular?

Story, story, story. Every one is an unstoppable, irresistible page-turner.

If you had to choose, what’s your favourite Agatha Christie book?

Death on the Nile – for its exotic location, cast list of memorable characters, all presided over by Poirot, Belgian detective supreme.

Why do you think the nation – and the world – fell in love with the character of Poirot?

‘Little grey cells’! Poirot is blessed with an extraordinary brain and is, like Sherlock Holmes, an obsessive, eccentric, single-minded sleuth, who always solves apparently unsolvable crimes.

What makes Hercule Poirot so different?

He is the eternal outsider, observing everything with scientific meticulousness and humane curiosity. Fastidious, particular, eccentric and a foreigner, living in England.

Through this documentary, what did you find out about Agatha that you didn’t know before?

Agatha Christie’s experience working in hospitals gave her an encyclopaedic knowledge of poisons, which inform and feature as the murder weapon of choice throughout the majority of her novels, plays and short stories.

Tells us a little about what viewers can expect...

Archive footage, literary experts, fans, film and television excerpts and experts exploring the life and works of the world’s most successful author of all time.

l If you missed it last night, watch now on ITV Hub.