Historian Lucy Worsley discovers the origins of Agatha Christie's macabre magic - and carefully concealed secrets - in a new TV series.

Ms Worsley has written a book Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman which addresses some of the misconceptions about the Wallingford writer.

It comes her whodunit The Mousetrap, the world's longest running play, which marks its 70th anniversary on Friday, is to open on Broadway for the first time next year.

Christie lived at Winterbrook House in Cholsey from 1934 until her death in 1976.

It is believed she created Poirot and Miss Marple in the library while living there with her archaeologist second husband Max Mallowan.

The couple are buried in nearby St Mary's churchyard in Cholsey.

Among the interesting facts the series will reveal is the possible explanations for Christie's disappearance in 1926.

After 11 days the famous author turned up under a false name at a hotel in Harrogate, and the reasons behind it have been speculated on for years.

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Afterwards, Christie gave an interview to the Daily Mail.

Ms Worsley said: "The thing is, people didn't want to hear what she had to say because it was uncomfortable, it was difficult to hear; it was a story about mental illness.

"She says in this interview 'I had just wanted my life to end.' She was experiencing suicidal thoughts and what had happened during the 11 days was a devastating episode, to my mind, of mental illness."

Christie’s car was found abandoned on the top of a cliff and the press and public speculated that it was a publicity stunt for her new book or that it was murder at the hands of her cheating husband.

"This counter-narrative spun by journalists has really taken over her story. People talk about this incident as though it's a huge mystery, but it's not a mystery," said Ms Worsley.

In 2021 a crowdfunding page was launched by a community group to raise funds to buy her former house, which was up for sale, and transform the space into an arts centre.

But they failed to raise the £2.75million needed to buy the property which has an English Heritage blue plaque by the front door in recognition of its famous former owner.

As well as being the birthplace of her most famous characters, Winterbrook House itself is thought to have been the model for Danemead – Miss Marple’s house in the village of St Mary Mead.

There are, however, plans for a bronze statue to be erected in the Kinecroft, close to Wallingford Museum which houses a permanent Agatha Christie exhibition.

Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen is on BBC2 tonight (Friday) at 9pm and on iPlayer.

 

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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