The Swinging Christies: Agatha Christie in the 1960s
This podcast explores Agatha Christie's writing during the 1960s, a decade associated with sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. Hosts Dr Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown examine how Christie's work engaged with the major social and cultural themes of the time. They follow the Queen of Crime through the Swinging Sixties and show why her 1960s output is more relevant than it might first appear.
Episodes
The Further Confessions of Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie wrote many confession scenes - but what were her own innermost secrets? Throughout her life Agatha and her family filled in a Confessions book several times - join Mark and Gray as they take an intimate look at Agatha’s likes, dislikes and more! For more confessions coverage, check out our episode from earlier this year: “The Swinging Christies LIVE: The Confessions of Agatha Chris
Spotlight on: Murder Most Foul, Agatha Christie's Miss Marple
Come settle in with Gray and Mark as they watch the next Margaret Rutherford Miss Marple film, Murder Most Foul (1964). Try as a commentary, by syncing up your copy of the film, or simply sit back and let our giddy observations wash over you. The Swinging Christies: the best place to be in this distracted globe. WE'VE WRITTEN A BOOK! You can pre-order The Swinging Christies: How Agatha Christi
Where to Start with The Swinging Christies
You there! Are you a new Swinger (not like that) or just wondering which of the Swinging-era Agatha Christie books you should read next? Well, we are here with a host of recommendations for you, from our favourite Poirot and Marple titles, to the best option if you’re looking for something darker... Plus we reveal our favourite episodes we've made so far!WE'VE WRITTEN A BOOK! You can pre-order The
Agatha Christie: Murder and Mirth?
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
The Swinging Christies LIVE! The Confessions of Agatha Christie
Back by popular demand, The Swinging Christies goes LIVE for only the second time! This special episode was recorded in Torquay at the Agatha Christie Festival Spring Gathering on 11 April 2026. Join Mark and Gray as they resurface a long-forgotten document: The Confessions of Agatha Christie…!WE'VE WRITTEN A BOOK! You can pre-order The Swinging Christies: How Agatha Christie Conquered the 196
Spotlight on: Murder at the Gallop, Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple
To mark (Aldridge) the occasion of Mark Aldridge’s latest book being available in PAPERBACK for the first time, Gray and Mark sit down to watch and natter through Murder at the Gallop (1963), the second of four 1960s films starring Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple. You can purchase Mark’s book, Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert on Wickedness in paperback, ebook and audio now!WE'VE WRITTEN A BOOK!
Introducing Westmapod! Our new Agatha Christie podcast
Hello Swingers, we have a new Agatha Christie podcast over on another feed we wanted to tell you about! But don't worry, The Swinging Christies isn't going anywhere. Go search WESTMAPOD in your podcatcher of choice and make sure you subscribe!It’s the introductory episode of Westmapod: Agatha Christie’s Secret Identity with co-hosts Gray and Mark (aka Christie Time).The alter ego of best-s
Agatha Christie: Work In Progress
Mark and Gray are reunited to discuss the working titles of Agatha Christie’s Swinging works - novels, plays and short stories to boot! Recorded in a very special location this is a fun rundown and a valuable glimpse into the Queen of Crime’s unique planning process!You can find us on Instagram @Christie_Time. We are also on Bluesky at ChristieTime.com. Our YouTube account is @TheSwingingChrist
Agatha Christie in Devon at the Burgh Island Hotel
Gray and Mark take the sea tractor over the crashing waves to the magnificent Burgh Island Hotel in Devon. Cut off from the mainland, they discuss Agatha Christie’s Devonshire locations and references in the Swinging works, and then meet Giles Fuchs, proprietor of the Burgh Island Hotel! But will there be a murder? (Spoiler: no.)You can find us on Instagram @Christie_Time. We are also on Bluesky
Climate Change
New year, new us…new world? Since before the 1960s, scientists have been warning at the negative human impact on the world around us, but it’s a topic that really hit the headlines in the Swinging era. Interestingly, it’s a thread that can be traced through some of Agatha Christie’s 1960s writing too… Join Mark and Gray for a brand new year on The Swinging Christies! PLUS: an announcement!You can
Christmas 2025
Mark and Gray aka Donner and Blitzen are here with the now-annual Swinging Christies Christmas extravaganza! This time the discussion is about the ITV Agatha Christie’s Poirot David Suchet adaptations of The Mystery of the Spanish/Baghdad Chest, and The Theft of the Royal Ruby, aka The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding! Expect an abundance of sleigh bells, a tuneful game, two Edward Claytons, and
Echoes of the Disappearance
Gray and Mark are sunning themselves in Puerto de la Cruz for Tenerife’s International Agatha Christie Festival! In the 1920s, Agatha came to this beautiful island to get away from it all, but even later, in the 1960s, the shadows of that dark time in her life were still evident.You can find us on Instagram @Christie_Time. We are also on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Our YouTube account
Hallowe’en 2025
Mwahahaha! It’s the now-traditional The Swinging Christies x Hallowe’en extravaganza, and this year Mark and Gray are talking about the recent film adaptation of Hallowe’en Party, A Haunting in Venice (2023). What do we make of the 1969 setting moved to 1947? Will we survive a risky game of apple bobbing, in a very non-galvanised bucket? Listen on to find out.You can find us on Instagram @Christi
The Swinging Christies LIVE! Cool Covers & Groovy Graphics - Packaging Agatha Christie for the 1960s
It’s The Swinging Christies as you've never heard (or seen) it before - with a live audience! Join Mark and Gray at the 2025 International Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay, Devon, for this special recorded and filmed episode all about the way Agatha Christie’s books were packaged for a whole new Swinging era! Expect laughs, mishaps, ribbing, and even the occasional fact.With heartfelt than
Titles in Translation
Gray and Mark meet Mystery Steve who has travelled all the way from Australia! Steve has been examining the way Agatha Christie titles have been translated into other languages. Steve’s project has just hit the 1960s, so we wanted to get him onto the podcast for the full lowdown. Travel the world with Gray, Mark and Steve!You can find us on Instagram @Christie_Time. We are also on Bluesky at ch
Interview with Jan Carson at the Belfast Book Festival
Gray and Mark head to beautiful Belfast to chat to novelist and Agatha Christie fan Jan Carson. Jan has been tackling the Troubles in her work for some time, and we want to discuss with her Christie’s Troubles references in Passenger to Frankfurt, as well as Irish characters and references in other Swinging books - all the way from The Pale Horse to By the Pricking of My Thumbs!You can find us on
Agatha Christie and Shirley Jackson
Two wickedly witty women writers, separated only by the Atlantic! This episode, Gray and Mark carry on their American adventures and discuss the similarities and differences between the works of Agatha Christie and Shirley Jackson. Specifically focussing on Shirley’s Swinging era - The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle!You can find us on Instagram @Christie_Time. We a
Swinging USA: Washington DC (Part 2)
Mrs Christie went to Washington, and Dr Aldridge and Mr Brown are following suit! This episode, we get the train to Washington DC to uncover the truth about how an American Christie fan would REALLY have experienced a Swinging Christie…You can find us on Instagram @Christie_Time. We are also on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social.Please subscribe to us, and rate and review us on your podcatch
Swinging USA: New York (Part 1)
Mark and Gray take Manhattan in the first in this very special miniseries recorded in the USA. In New York, Gray and Mark discuss Agatha’s 1960s connections to America, plus their discoveries in papers held at the Princeton University Archive.You can find us on Instagram @Christie_Time. We are also on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please subscribe to us, and rate and review us on your podc
Swinging India
Mark and Gray travel to India (metaphorically) in search of the Queen of Crime! Along the way, they discuss various Hindi and Bengali adaptations, and meet with friend-of-the-podcast and expert adaptor/writer Ayeesha Menon to discuss her Mumbai stage version of The Mirror Crack’d!You can find us on Instagram @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do subscribe, rate a
Swinging Marple
Miss Marple isn’t an old duffer - she’s a swinging cat! At least that’s what Mark and Gray discover this episode when they shine a light on Agatha Christie’s beloved sleuth. In particular we look at her 1960s outings, plus her Swinging-era cases in the recent 2021 short story collection, in stories by Alyssa Cole, Naomi Alderman, Jean Kwok, Dreda Say Mitchell, Karen M. McManus and Leigh Bardugo.Yo
Agatha Christie and Muriel Spark
A talented British author, a story about machinations in a girls’ school… How much do Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark have in common? Mark and Gray investigate…Featuring (from 5 mins in) a recording of a talk originally given by Gray for Romancing the Gothic, with kind permission of Dr Sam Hirst.You can read our special article for the Aga
Revivalism
Mark and Gray ring in the New Year with a discussion of the 1960s trend for… actually not being very 1960s at all! But just how much of Christie’s 1960s writing harks back to the Edwardian and Victorian eras? Did they even ‘swing’ back then??You can listen to our guest spot on the All About Agatha podcast, here.You can read our special article for the Agatha Christie website here.You can read Mark
Christmas 2024
There’s always Christie at Christmas! Join Mark and Gray making the yuletide gay with a discussion about Christie’s festive writings from the 1960s. Come swing around the Christmas tree!You can read our special article for the Agatha Christie website here.You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever
From the Archive
In a very special episode, join Mark and Gray as they delve deep into Agatha Christie’s family archive and uncover some seldom-seen 1960s gems…You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark
Hallowe'en 2024
Gray and Mark go trick-or-treating and uncover the truth about Hallowe’en parties in the 1960s, via Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie! They even risk their lives - and fingers - by playing a fiery game of Snapdragon!You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.Our website is
Spotlight on: Murder She Said, Agatha Christie's Marple by Mark Aldridge
To mark (ha) the publication of Mark’s new book, ‘Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert on Wickedness’, Mark and Gray have recorded a special commentary of the 1961 Miss Marple film, Murder She Said. Along the way Mark teases some nuggets of gold from his new book!Listen on to the end for an exclusive sneak peek of the audiobook of ‘Agatha Christie’s Marple’, read by Jane Slavin!You can find us on Inst
Reflections
You catch Mark and Gray in a reflective mood, as they reunite for a retrospective on the series so far - everything they have learned and anything they missed along the way, with the help of some lovely listener feedback!
You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
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9. Fame
Mark and Gray dodge the paparazzi and marvel at Christie’s fame, including her success in the theatre, on screen, and around the world. But surely it’s not the podcast’s curtain call..? Find out what’s happening next for The Swinging Christies!
Includes interview clips from Mathew Prichard and Agatha Christie herself!
You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky a
8. Armageddon
The clock is ticking for Mark and Gray, as The Swinging Christies examines Agatha Christie's references to the advancement of technology in the 1960s and the Cold War!
You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
Our website is ChristieTime.com.
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7. Empire
This episode of The Swinging Christies explores globaliastion, the US-UK cultural exchange, the decline of the British Empire and the rise of the Civil Rights movement - all topics that were swirling whilst Agatha Christie was writing!
You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcas
6. Drugs
Tune in to the sixth episode of The Swinging Christies, drop everything and peace out! Mark and Gray examine the references to drugs in Agatha Christie's 60s novels, plays, films and short stories. Purple hearts for everyone!
You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
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5. Horror
In the fifth episode of The Swinging Christies, Mark and Gray spook each other by discussing everything from contemporary fears to olde folklore in the 1960s Agatha Christies.
You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
Our website is ChristieTime.com.
The Swinging Christies
4. Fashion
Episode four of The Swinging Christies sees Mark and Gray get all togged up and browse down Carnaby Street, as they examine style, art and Agatha Christie.
You can find us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
Our website is ChristieTime.com.
The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time
3. Money
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) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
Our website is ChristieTime.com.
The Swinging Christies is
2. Rock 'n' Roll
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 us on Instagram (as well as X) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
Our website is ChristieTi
1. Sex
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: very insightfully, and a lot more than you might think!WE'VE WRITTEN A BOOK! You can pre-order The Swinging Christies: How Agatha Christie Conquered the 1960s NOW!You ca
Introduction
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) @Christie_Time. We are on Bluesky at christietime.bsky.social. Please do rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
Our website is ChristieTime.com.
The Swinging Christies is a C
