A MODERN-DAY crimewriter provides a unique insight into the world of a literary legend.

Sep 6 2009 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

Val McDermid presents a look at the life and times of Agatha Christie with the help of archive tape recordings of the Queen of Crime’s own voice.

The scratchy recordings, found in a box by Christie’s grandson, have never been publicly heard.

Scottish-born Val, who has a house in Northumberland, makes no secret of her admiration for Christie’s whodunnits.

Her best-known creation is psychologist Tony Hill. The character appears in the TV series Wire in the Blood, starring Robson Green.

Val is joined by a panel of guests, including biographer Laura Thompson and archivist John Curran, who has spent the past couple of years transcribing Christie’s notebooks, which contain drafts and outlines for her plotting.

The programme also includes comments from the current Poirot and Marple actors and extracts from ITV’s forthcoming dramatisations of her work.

ARCHIVE ON 4: AGATHA CHRISTIE’S LIFE IN HER WORDS, BBC Radio 4, Saturday, 8pm.