Agatha Christie called Poirot 'insufferable' and only kept writing him for the money, letters reveal

From the Newshound archive · first published 10 October 2026.

Christie called Hercule Poirot "insufferable" in a 1940 letter, admitting he was simply "her main source of income." The letters, held by Christie's agent, belong to a roughly 6,000-document archive being lent to the British Library and put on public display later this month to mark 50 years since her death. University archivist Annie Price notes that Christie occasionally softened toward Poirot, feeling "quite protective" of the one character she never wanted adapted for film, TV or radio.

Christie described Miss Marple, by contrast, as one of her 'favourite creations' in a 1960 letter.

The exhibition explores how Christie's own life shaped her characters, and opens at the British Library later this month.

The BBC has announced that actor Edward Bluemel will play a 33-year-old Poirot in 'Hercule', a new prequel series.