Christie 'exorcised' herself of Poirot

The murder mystery writer Agatha Christie wanted to "exorcise herself" of Hercule Poirot, one of her most famous and enduring characters, her grandson has revealed.

Matthew Prichard said the novelist came to think of the Belgian detective as her "bread and butter" but would complain about having to churn out "yet another Poirot".

He told the Radio Times: "She was never short of ideas for books but some were inappropriate for Poirot, so she was very keen to exorcise herself of him by writing different stories with new characters.

"But her agents and publishers, who were in charge of the pounds and pence, were very keen on Poirot – he was her most popular character."

Christie, deemed the world's best-selling author, signed over the rights of her favourite works to her daughter and grandson before her death at the age of 85 in 1976.