Between The Covers Live! UK Tour Celebrates Agatha Christie with Star-Studded Guest Line-Up

The beloved BBC Two book club show Between The Covers is heading out on a UK tour, and this time the focus is squarely on the Queen of Crime herself: Agatha Christie. Between The Covers Live! Celebrating Agatha Christie promises an evening of literary discussion, fond tributes, and behind-the-scenes insights into the enduring works of the world's best-selling fiction writer.

What to Expect from the Live Tour

The touring show brings the warm, conversational format of the television programme to theatres across the UK. Audiences are invited to join an exclusive book club atmosphere as the panel discusses Christie's most celebrated novels, her lasting cultural impact, and the reasons her mysteries continue to captivate readers more than a century after her first publication. Hosted by television producer and presenter Amanda Ross, who has been instrumental in championing reading on screen, the live events promise to be both entertaining and illuminating for fans of crime fiction.

At the heart of each show will be actor and author Ben Miller, known for his roles in Death in Paradise and Johnny English, alongside bestselling thriller writer Lucy Foley, whose own novels owe a clear debt to the Christie tradition of twisting, atmospheric whodunnits. Together, they will lead the conversation and share their personal connections to Christie's work.

Special Guests Confirmed for the Tour

Adding extra sparkle to the tour is a rotating roster of special guests who will appear at different dates. Rob Rinder, the barrister and television personality best known for Judge Rinder, brings his sharp legal mind and well-documented love of literature to proceedings. Nigel Havers, the veteran actor whose career spans decades of stage and screen work, will also join the panel at select performances. Both guests are expected to bring their own unique perspectives on Christie's genius for plotting, character, and the very British art of the murder mystery.

It is worth noting that Celia Imrie, who was originally announced as part of the guest line-up, is no longer able to appear due to unforeseen circumstances. An updated schedule confirming which guests appear at which venues is expected to be released shortly.

Agatha Christie's Enduring Legacy on Stage and Page

Agatha Christie remains one of the most performed playwrights in the world, and her influence on British theatre is difficult to overstate. The Mousetrap, her legendary whodunnit, continues its record-breaking run at St Martin's Theatre in London, having entertained audiences since 1952. It stands as the longest-running show of any kind in the history of the West End, a testament to the timeless appeal of Christie's storytelling.

Meanwhile, Witness for the Prosecution continues to thrill audiences at London County Hall, staged in the round in the building's atmospheric former council chamber. These productions show that Christie's work is not merely a literary phenomenon but a living, breathing part of the British theatrical landscape.

Why Christie Still Captivates

Part of the appeal of an event like Between The Covers Live! is the opportunity to explore what makes Christie so enduringly popular. Her novels have sold over two billion copies worldwide, translated into more than 100 languages. Her detectives, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, have become cultural icons in their own right, inspiring countless adaptations across film, television, radio, and theatre.

For modern readers and audiences, Christie offers something increasingly rare: puzzle-box plotting where the reader is genuinely challenged to work out the solution before the final reveal. Her influence is clearly visible in the work of contemporary writers like Lucy Foley, whose novels The Guest List and The Hunting Party employ similar closed-circle mystery structures. The live tour is a chance to hear these connections explored in depth, with panellists drawing lines between Christie's golden age mysteries and the modern thriller boom.

A Growing Trend for Live Literary Events

The Between The Covers tour is part of a wider trend that has seen book clubs and literary discussion programmes move beyond the screen and into live venues. The success of events like these reflects the appetite among audiences for communal, in-person cultural experiences. Much like the immersive and interactive theatre experiences that have flourished in the West End in recent years, live book events offer something that watching at home simply cannot replicate: the energy of a shared room, spontaneous audience interaction, and the chance to hear favourite personalities speak off the cuff.

For theatre lovers, it also represents an interesting intersection of genres. Christie herself was a passionate playwright, and the conversation at these events will likely touch on her work for the stage as much as her novels. Ben Miller, whose own detective fiction has earned him a loyal readership, has spoken previously about how performing in theatrical settings has informed his understanding of Christie's dramatic instincts.

Should You Book?

If you are a fan of Agatha Christie, crime fiction, or the Between The Covers television show, this tour is well worth considering. The combination of Ben Miller's wit, Lucy Foley's genre expertise, Amanda Ross's hosting experience, and rotating special guests like Rob Rinder and Nigel Havers makes for a strong line-up. Keep an eye out for the updated guest schedule to confirm who will be appearing at each venue.

For those who want to experience Christie's work live on stage while in London, you can book tickets for The Mousetrap or Witness for the Prosecution, both running now. Browse all plays currently showing in London, or explore our full listings page for everything on stage in the West End and beyond.