BBC Studios has unveiled an AI-generated Agatha Christie as the face and voice of its new online writing course, allowing aspiring authors to learn storytelling from the queen of crime fiction herself, albeit virtually.
As part of its BBC Maestro platform, the broadcaster has digitally recreated Christie using artificial intelligence to teach a series of lessons on crafting compelling detective stories. While actress Vivien Keene performs the role physically, AI augmentation helps her closely resemble Christie in both voice and appearance.
A Tech-Enhanced Tribute to a Literary Icon
The course, titled Agatha Christie Writing, is available now through BBC Maestro, a subscription-based service priced at $10 per month. Typically hosting content from contemporary professionals in various creative fields, the platform now introduces its first AI-assisted historical figure into the mix.
According to the author’s great-grandson James Prichard, the material is delivered “in Agatha’s very own words.” Rather than relying on generative AI to create new content, the course is based on insights derived from Christie’s real-life work, academic input, and historically accurate materials curated in collaboration with the Agatha Christie Estate.
Authentic Lessons Rooted in Christie’s Legacy
The BBC used a combination of restored archival audio, licensed photographs, interviews, and original writings to construct a believable digital representation of the iconic writer. The resulting course spans 11 video modules and includes 12 exercises, with topics like building suspense and constructing tightly-woven plots.
The intention, according to BBC Studios, is to offer learners a unique and immersive experience while honoring the literary legacy of one of the most influential crime novelists in history.
This high-tech homage not only reintroduces deepfaked Agatha Christie to a new generation but also raises the bar for how legacy figures might shape modern education through AI-enhanced media.
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