Agatha Christie: Murder and Mirth?

Agatha Christie: Murder and Mirth?

Author: The Swinging Christies June 7, 2026 Duration: 43:04

Welcome to a very special episode, recorded at the London Comedy Film Festival, the world’s premiere comedy film festival! Gray was interviewed by festival director and Agatha fan Benedict Morrison about the 1960s filmic inclination to inject extra laughs into Agatha Christies. But is Agatha funny?

WE'VE WRITTEN A BOOK! You can pre-order The Swinging Christies: How Agatha Christie Conquered the 1960s NOW!

We will be LIVE AGAIN in September 2026 for the next Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay - you can check out the event details here.

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The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. Artwork designed by Bartlett Studio.

00:00:00 - Opening titles

00:00:56 - Introductory chat

00:02:50 - Gray and Benedict at the London Comedy Festival

00:32:04 - Debrief with Mark

00:40:58 - How to get in touch

00:42:19 - Coda, closing titles


The Swinging Christies: Agatha Christie in the 1960s might seem like a contradiction, but that’s the fascinating territory this podcast explores. Hosted by Dr Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown, it’s a deep and often surprising look at how the Queen of Crime’s later work intersected with a decade of radical change. Forget the stereotypical image of a cosy, unchanging writer; here, we examine how Christie’s stories from that era engaged with shifting attitudes towards youth culture, morality, and social upheaval. Each episode digs into a specific novel or theme, unpacking the subtle-and sometimes not so subtle-ways her writing reflected or reacted to the world of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. It’s a rad journey through time that treats her work with serious scholarly insight while embracing the vibrant spirit of the period. You’ll come away from this podcast with a completely refreshed perspective on one of history’s most prolific authors, hearing her familiar plots through a new, decidedly swinging lens.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 35

The Swinging Christies: Agatha Christie in the 1960s
Podcast Episodes
3. Money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:29
In the third episode of The Swinging Christies, Mark and Gray turn the spotlight on class, inequality, society... all themes that are present and correct in Agatha Christie! You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @C…
2. Rock 'n' Roll [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:33
It's the second episode of The Swinging Christies, and Mark and Gray are grooving to the music of the 1960s. Featuring brand new, exclusive insight from Agatha Christie's grandson, Mathew Prichard, himself! You can find…
1. Sex [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:29
It's the first full episode of The Swinging Christies! And Mark and Gray are discussing hot topics around sex and the 1960s. How does Agatha Christie write about gender, queerness, feminism, and how often? The answer is:…
Introduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:36
In the introductory episode of The Swinging Christies, Mark and Gray explain why they are embarking on his project to highlight the work of Agatha Christie in the 1960s! You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Chris…