Agatha Christie Festival 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic put paid to what was set to be a huge year celebrating the publication of Agatha Christie’s first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which introduced the world to Hercule Poirot.

The Festival board of trustees and director Tony Medawar made the decision to move the festival online. Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard, introduced the online festival and read a poem by his grandmother Dartmoor. The highly creative festival featured quizzes, virtual treasure hunts, a short story competition, panel discussions and short films. There were also cocktails of the day and a bring your own cream tea event. Other highlights included Jamie Bernthal-Hooker reading his play Clue-Don’t, Mark Aldridge taking about Christie and TV adaptations of her work and three very special All About Agatha podcasts featuring Sophie Hannah, Laura Thompson and Mathew Prichard. These videos are all still available on the Agatha Christie Festival YouTube Channel.