The Swinging Christies: Agatha Christie in the 1960s

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com.  The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. You can listen to the audiobook of ‘Agatha Christie’s Marple’ via Audible, Spotify and all other good audio retailers. Next episode: we delve into the Agatha Archives! 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:41 - Introductory chat 00:02:38 - Origins of Hallowe’en 00:15:57 - Hallowe’en in the 1960s 00:28:01 - What would a 1960s Hallowe’en party have entailed? Apple bobbing, Jack o’lanterns, trick or treating, games 00:46:10 - We play Snapdragon! 00:51:08 - More games, the broomstick competition 00:57:08 - Next episode, how to get in touch 00:58:56 - Closing titles 00:59:25 - Coda Solutions revealed - Hallowe’en Party! TW: murder of children

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com.  The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. You can download the audiobook of ‘Agatha Christie’s Marple’, read by Jane Slavin, via Audible, Spotify and all good audio retailers. Next episode: Hallowe'en! 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:38 - Interview with Mark Aldridge 00:05:48 - Murder She Wrote commentary 01:29:11 - Next episode, how to get in touch 01:30:05 - Closing titles 01:30:33 - Extract from the audiobook of 'Agatha Christie’s Marple' Solutions revealed! - 4.50 from Paddington

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. Next episode: watch this space… 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:38 - Introductory chat 00:04:54 - Recapping the series so far 00:17:11 - Corrections, clarifications, extras 00:30:47 - The Mailbag 00:59:09 - Next episode, how to get in touch 01:01:34 - Closing titles 01:01:59 - Coda Solutions revealed! - The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side TW: racist saying quoted

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is ChristieTime.com. 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:59 - Introductory chat 00:03:11 - The 1960s: Christie’s most successful decade? 00:15:14 - Christie in Theatreland, Mathew Prichard 00:33:45 - Christie on the small screen, Mathew Prichard 00:52:53 - Agatha Christie the celebrity 01:09:49 - Christie’s biggest fans 01:15:55 - Publicity and press 01:23:09 - Mary Westmacott 01:26:27 - Agatha Christie’s Autobiography 01:29:32 - Christie’s Late Style 01:37:09 - Next episode, how to get in touch 01:41:01 - Closing titles 01:41:28 - Coda The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. Next episode: Reflections

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. Next episode: Fame 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:50 - Introductory chat 00:05:38 - Why did it feel like the end of the world in the 1960s? 00:15:31 - The Cuban Missile Crisis aka a Caribbean Mystery 00:30:11 - The Doomsday Clock and The Clocks 00:37:45 - The Bomb and Ban the Bomb, MAD, détente 00:49:46 - Global student movements and Passenger to Frankfurt 00:53:15 - Espionage 01:17:52 - Scientific advancements 01:33:10 - Space exploration 01:39:02 - Next episode, how to get in touch 01:40:27 - Closing titles 01:40:53 - Coda Solutions revealed! - The Clocks, Ordeal by Innocence

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. Next episode: Armageddon 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:50 - Introductory chat 00:05:05 - Agatha Christie in the world 00:08:54 - The ongoing disintegration of the British Empire 00:27:10 - Increasing multiculturalism and racism 00:38:53 - Joining the EEC 00:43:04 - Anglo-American cultural exchange 00:59:39 - Travel and transport 01:13:10 - Citizens of the world 01:15:49 - Next episode, how to get in touch 01:17:14 - Closing titles 01:17:40 - Coda Solutions revealed! - A Caribbean Mystery, Endless Night TW: Discussions of racism and xenophobia, including some racist language in quoted material

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown.  Next episode: Empire 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:55 - Introductory chat 00:01:46 - Drugs everywhere in the 1960s! 00:04:01 - Christie in the Dispensary  00:16:37 - Christie’s invented poisons - Calmo, Serenite, Benvo 00:29:28 - Real poisons in the Swinging books and adaptations 00:35:06 - Thallium and The Pale Horse 00:37:27 - Purple hearts and Third Girl 00:43:16 - Ups and downs with uppers and downers 00:57:23 - The Harlequin Tea Set 00:59:58 - Psychedelia  01:09:55 - Next episode, how to get in touch 01:10:10 - Closing titles 01:11:38 - Coda Solutions revealed! - A Caribbean Mystery, Third Girl, The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, Endless Night, The Pale Horse

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown.  Next episode: Drugs  00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:39 - Introductory chat 00:05:21 - Horror landscape in the 1960s 00:21:05 - Domestic horror 00:36:28 - Folklore 00:51:25 - Horror and insanity, suicide 01:12:19 - Hardboiled thrillers, violence 01:22:00 - Sanitised horror in adaptations 01:30:06 - Rising crime in the 1960s 01:37:33 - Next episode, how to get in touch 01:38:22 - Closing titles 01:38:49 - Coda Solutions revealed! - Hallowe’en Party, A Caribbean Mystery, The Patient, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, The Pale Horse, Endless Night, At Bertram’s Hotel  TW - death of children, suicide, mental illness, outdated terms in quoted material 

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown.  Next episode: Horror 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:42 - Introductory chat 00:04:37 - The fashion industry in the 1960s 00:14:40 - What was in vogue? 00:19:55 - The miniskirt! 00:28:22 - Animal print, bikinis, the dolly bird look, the babydoll look 00:37:28 - Boutique culture 00:41:38 - Fashion magazine Vogue 00:45:27 - Make-up and hair 00:53:14 - Men’s hair and fashion 00:59:59 - The Peacock 01:03:53 - Art and aesthetics 01:12:56 - Revivalism (to be continued…) 01:15:47 - Next episode, how to get in touch 01:16:30 - Closing titles 01:16:57 - Coda Solutions revealed! - The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, Third Girl

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. Next episode: Fashion 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:36 - Introductory chat 00:01:51 - Context 00:02:42 - Agatha’s relationship with money 00:10:19 - The MGM deal 00:21:22 - The Great Train Robbery 1963 00:25:56 - Organised crime 00:29:21 - Increased prosperity, ways of living, new towns, consumerism, class 00:59:53 - New money 01:04:33 - Next episode, how to get in touch 01:05:48 - Closing titles 01:06:09 - Coda Solutions revealed! - At Bertram's Hotel, The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, Endless Night

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. Next episode: Money 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:59 - Introductory chat 00:03:51 - The Beatles 00:15:33 - Mathew Prichard interview 00:19:44 - Christie’s love of music 00:22:19 - Death Beat (to be continued…) 00:24:17 - Youth culture 00:28:46 - Music in film adaptations 00:39:09 - Celebrities and fans 00:45:54 - The end of the decade 00:47:22 - Next episode, how to get in touch 00:48:17 - Closing titles 00:48:36 - Coda

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! You can find us on X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. Next episode: Rock 'n' Roll 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:00:59 - Sex 00:08:09 - Pornography 00:16:03 - Girls into women 00:30:20 - “Sexed up” adaptations 00:45:15 - Love and marriage 00:52:00 - Children born out of wedlock, divorce, abortion 01:00:48 - Feminism 01:15:42 - Queerness 01:31:09 - Next episode, how to get in touch 01:31:55 - Closing titles 01:32:16 - Coda Solutions revealed! - Hallowe'en Party, Endless Night, A Caribbean Mystery, At Bertram's Hotel TW - sexual references including sexualisation of young people, misogynistic language quoted, homophobic language quoted.

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 X and Instagram under @Christie_Time. Our website is Christietime.com. The Swinging Christies is a Christie Time project by Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown. Next episode: Sex 00:00:00 - Opening titles 00:01:20 - Mark’s love of Christie 00:04:59 - Gray’s love of Christie 00:08:46 - Plan for the series ahead 00:19:04 - How to get in touch 00:20:21 - Closing titles 00:20:52 - Coda