'Agatha Christie’s England': release date, locations, trailer, and all you need to know

By David Hollingsworth
published

Agatha Christie’s England reveals how the Queen of Crime was inspired by the locations around her.

Agatha Christie's England
Agatha Christie's England visits Upper House, one of Agatha's residences in the country. (Image credit: Knickerbockerglory TV All Rights Reserved)

Agatha Christie’s England is a new documentary about the English locations the writer knew and loved.

It’s revealed that many of the locations helped inspire some of the author’s famous characters and plots for her hugely popular murder mysteries.

The one-off film, narrated by James Bond actress Samantha Bond, is a must-watch for all fans of the Queen of Crime.

Agatha Christie’s England release date

Agatha Christie’s England is being shown in the UK on Channel 5 on Tuesday 6 July at 9pm. It will also be available on catch-up service My5. 

Meanwhile, Agatha Christie’s England has already been broadcast on PBS in America. 

What locations feature in Agatha Christie’s England?

Agatha Christie's England boathouse Greenway

Agatha Christie's great-grandson James at the boathouse, Greenway. (Image credit: Channel 5)

Fans will know that many of the places featured in the books are inspired by real locations. The documentary features Beacon Cove in Devon, where Agatha swam as a young woman with her nephew. Her nephew nearly drowned and that moment was movingly echoed later in her 1939 novel And Then There Were None. We also head to her country retreat, Greenway, near Torquay. The boathouse there featured in her 1956 classic, Dead Man’s Folly. 

Christie may have partly based Miss Marple on her great aunt, who she lovingly called Granny. And we go to Ealing, where her great aunt would gleefully talk about the latest murder trial. We also go to Marple train station in Stockport and Christie is thought to have named her spinster sleuth creation after the station.

Does the film have access to Christie’s family?

Yes, Agatha Christie’s great-grandson James is seen in the documentary visiting the boathouse at Greenway. The makers also had access to Christie’s private homes.

Is there a trailer?

Yes! “Take a mystery tour through Agatha Christie’s England. Journey from perilous places to murderous manor houses and uncover Agatha Christie’s England,” declares the short trailer.  

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David Hollingsworth
David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.


Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 


David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.


Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!