
Agatha Christie brought to life by AI for writing course
Brought to life by actress Vivien Keen and visual effect artists, the course will use AI-enhanced technology, images and restored audio recordings to recreate Christie's words and teachings to make it feel as if she is delivering them directly.
'As a lifelong fan of Agatha Christie, bringing this course to life has been a dream come true, and I am immensely proud of it,' said Michael Levine, chief executive of BBC Maestro, which runs online courses and developed Agatha Christie Writing with BBC Studios, the writer's estate and a team of experts.
He said the course invites all Christie fans to 'learn through her own words, exactly how she does it; her background, her inspirations, her craft and the lessons she learned along the way'.
The course has been created by a team of experts from Christie's who have reconstructed her philosophy on writing, drawing her insights on story structure, cast creation, plot twists, red herrings and the art of suspense from her work and archival interviews.
The writer's great-grandson James Prichard, the chairman and chief executive of Agatha Christie Limited, said: 'The team of academics and researchers that BBC Maestro has assembled have extracted from a number of her writings an extraordinary array of her views and opinions on how to write.'
Christie's books have sold more than 200 billion copies and include 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections. Her works also include as The Mousetrap, the world's longest-running stage play which has run in London's West End since 1952 with its only break coming during the Covid pandemic.
She died in 1976 aged 85 but her crime fiction continues to be produced for television and movies.
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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Mark Feehily's years-long health woes as Westlife icon makes agonising decision
Mark Feehily sadly won't be rejoining his Westlife bandmates on stage for the band's 25th anniversary celebrations, as his temporary break from the group is extended Westlife fans are waking up gutted this morning following the sad announcement that Mark Feehily won't be joining the band's 25th anniversary celebrations. Mark announced his shock exit from the Irish group last year, amid some serious health battles, but many had been hopeful he would return to the stage soon. "It is with the utmost level of regret that I must now temporarily stand down from all Westlife touring until a time that I have had the chance to fully recover from the turbulent journey I have been through as an individual," Mark emotionally revealed in February 2024. It sadly looks like Mark's temporary break has been extended for the foreseeable."Sadly, Mark will be unable to join the celebrations. We hope he can join us back on stage when he is ready and able. He sends his love and positivity to you all as always," Westlife wrote in a statement shared with fans on Wednesday night, signed by Mark alongside his bandmates. Mark has been quiet over recent months, rarely posting to social media. His health troubles began five years ago when he underwent surgery and developed severe sepsis due to complications. August 2020 Mark shared with his fans that he was "rushed to A&E" just days after the operation, showing symptoms of the potentially deadly infection, which required immediate emergency surgery. "I had developed severe sepsis, a life threatening infection that would require immediate emergency surgery to rectify the problem and basically save my life", he told fans at the time. After the emergency procedure, Mark spent several months in hospital, including a lengthy stay in intensive care during a particularly challenging and scary time of the Covid-19 pandemic. "I spent the next few months in hospital," Mark recalled. "For months, due to the strict Covid restrictions, I was not allowed any visitors including my fiancé and my then 10-month-old daughter. "It was physically and mentally a very difficult time, not to mention traumatic having to spend so long in ICU. I was eventually discharged from hospital in December 2020 but I have had ongoing medical problems as a result of it all." November 2021 Despite recovering enough to join his Westlife bandmates on their Wild Dreams tour in 2021, Mark was forced to withdraw from the tour later that year after falling seriously ill with pneumonia before a UK concert. "I was told I had to go straight home to recover and regrettably miss the rest of the concerts that December," a dejected Mark confirmed. May 2022 In May 2022, Mark underwent further surgery and three months post-operation he attempted to "soldier on" for his fans by returning to the tour. However, he confessed that the "physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel" were too much. He developed "a very large incisional hernia" and later that year, Mark had yet another operation to "fix it". "This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option." February 2024 After enduring his fourth operation in as many years, Mark announced that he is temporarily stepping back from all Westlife touring until he can fully recuperate from the "turbulent journey" he has been on. "That surgery took place recently and thankfully it went according to plan but with that, my recovery must now become my absolute priority at this time." With a heavy heart, Mark announced that he will be taking a temporary break from Westlife's touring schedule, saying: "It is with the utmost level of regret that I must now temporarily stand down for all Westlife touring until a time that I have had the chance to fully recover from the turbulent journey I have been through as an individual." He reassured fans, "Believe me, I wish things could be different," and urged them, "please don't worry". June 2004 - Final Instagram post In June 2004, a few months on from announcing his break from Westlife duties, Mark returned to social media to launch a new line of clothes by Human Collective to celebrate Pride month. "As much as I've been on a bit of a social media detox, I have jumped on a couple of times and I just wanted to say a huge heartfelt thank you for all of the amazing messages," Mark says towards the end of his video message. "I'm proud to have you guys as fans and on that note, Happy Pride from my family to yours and we'll see you very, very soon. Lots of love." In the wake of Westlife and Mark's announcement on Wednesday night, fans have been commenting on Mark's year-old video. "We miss you, Mark. I'm hoping you're feeling OK and we can see you on stage as soon as you're feeling," one told the star today, with another adding: "Just realised it's been a year since this last post. We hope you are ok."


Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Westlife star missing from upcoming shows after concerning year-long silence
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Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Westlife star pulls out of 25-year celebrations after serious health issues leaving fans concerned
The band will continue on for their anniversary as a trio. Westlife fans have been left gutted after it was revealed that band member Mark Feehily will not be able to perform at the band's big 25th anniversary gigs as he continues to battle health issues. Mark was in the band with Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Kian Egan and the lads enjoyed huge success but in February 2024, he announced that he was taking a step back from the Irish boyband due to health issues. The last few years have been tough for Mark and in 2024, he underwent surgery to treat a hernia. A few years prior to that he was treated for sepsis during a Covid lockdown in August 2020. At the time of his operation last August, Mark was advised to recover and not go back on tour with Westlife as they headed off to Canada, the US, Mexico and Brazil, writes The Mirror. Many fans were hopeful that Mark would later be able to rejoin the group to mark their big anniversary, but he has now confirmed that he will be unable to attend. In a message shared on social media on Wednesday night, Westlife wrote: "To our amazing fans, We would like to take this opportunity to share some very important news with you all. "We are thrilled to announce the launch of our 25th Anniversary celebrations... On the 9th February 2001 we kicked off our first ever world tour at the Newcastle Arena. Who would have thought we would still be here 25 years later? "We have so many exciting plans to share with you very soon which will include new music, an album, special shows and many, many more surprises along the way. "Sadly, Mark will be unable to join the celebrations. We hope he can join us back on stage when he is ready and able. He sends his love and positivity to you all as always. "The four of us can't quite believe its been 25 years. We could only have dreamt of the continued love and loyalty you have consistently shown us around the world. We are so lucky to have all of you with us and we can't wait to celebrate together! Happy 25th To Us All! Love, Kian, Mark, Nicky & Shane x." In the comments sections of the post, fans had different opinions on the show doing on as a trio. One penned: "I don't know whether to cry with happiness that you're finally coming back for your 25th year anniv or sob at the fact that mark won't be joining you to celebrate it. I'm so overwhelmed…" "Love you guys... BUT, Westlife isn't Westlife without Mark. 3 just don't cut it," another wrote, with a third pondering: "I wonder if Bryan McFadden will possibly join them for some shows?" Brian McFadden was also a member of Westlife but quit the band in March 2004. Mark first opened up about his health struggles last year on Instagram, posting a statement on the band's official Instagram account, he wrote: "Hello and much love to you all! It's Mark here.. Most of you are aware that I have had some health challenges over the past while. It actually all started 3.5 years ago in August 2020 when I had surgery. Within a few days of this surgery I was in severe pain and was rushed into AandE." He continued: "I eventually ended that awful day in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where I was informed that due to a complication with the surgery, I had developed severe "Sepsis", a life-threatening infection that would require immediate emergency surgery to rectify the problem and basically save my life. I spent the next few months in hospital. It was during lockdown. For months, due to strict Covid restrictions, I was not allowed any visitors including my fiance and my then 10-month-old daughter. It was physically and mentally a very difficult time, not to mention traumatic having to spend so long in ICU." Mark revealed that he was discharged from hospital in December 2020 but has since grappled with chronic health issues. He elaborated: "In late 2021, I became very ill in Newcastle before a concert and ended up back in AandE, this time being told I had pneumonia. I was told I had to go straight home to recover and regrettably miss the rest of the concerts that December. I was referred to a consultant who told me I needed more surgery which I went ahead with in May 2022 meaning I was forced to miss more of The Wild Dreams tour. "Three months after that surgery, I tried my best to soldier on for you guys and to go back on tour but unfortunately the physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel were proving too much for me. I developed a very large 'incisional hernia' and I was told that I needed further surgery to fix it. This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option." Fortunately, his most recent surgery was successful, however, Mark still needs time to recover. "It is with the utmost level of regret that I must now temporarily stand down from all Westlife touring until a time that I have had the chance to fully recover from the turbulent journey I have been through as an individual," he confessed. "Believe me, I wish things could be different! I would like to thank you so very much for your support and understanding of me and my health over the past few years." He expressed his gratitude towards his family and medical team for their support during his health struggles. Mark went on: "To Shane, Kian and Nicky, I love you three and I know you'll knock it out of the park. I'll be there with you in spirit for each and every show whilst you continue to fly the Westlife flag around the world." Openly acknowledging his current condition, he confided: "But for now, I have to make the right decision for my health and wellbeing, for my family, and for myself as a person. Please don't worry. Sending the most positive vibes in your direction, I will see you very soon beautiful people! WESTLIFE FOREVER! Love, Mark Feehily xx." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!