First Look at The Detection Club, BritBox’s New Agatha Christie-Era Mystery
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Last Updated on August 24, 2026 by Stefanie Hutson
Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and G.K. Chesterton are becoming amateur detectives themselves in The Detection Club, a new 10-part mystery series from the BBC and BritBox. The new period mystery imagines the three celebrated crime writers becoming involved in real murder investigations in 1930s London.
Filming is now underway, and while the premiere is still a ways off, a just-released first-look image gives us a peek at the actors and their transformations.
What Is The Detection Club About?
Set during the golden age of detective fiction, The Detection Club follows fictionalised versions of Christie, Sayers and Chesterton as they meet within the walls of a secret London location and work on their craft. An unexpected invitation draws the three writers into their first real murder investigation, and their talents for constructing and solving fictional mysteries prove surprisingly useful when faced with actual crimes.
The series will follow the writers through a succession of mysteries, with each of the 10 episodes running approximately 45 minutes each.
Their amateur investigations regularly bring them into contact with D.I. Greenway, a young police detective eager to prove himself. Unfortunately for Greenway, the writers’ instincts have a habit of both helping his cases and making his job considerably more complicated.
Dedicated Agatha Christie fans will, of course, perk up at the mention of “Greenway” – which is also the name of the author's famed Devon estate.
Was the Detection Club a Real Group?
Yes, although the murder-solving part of the new series is fictional.
The real Detection Club was formed in 1930 and brought together many of the leading British crime writers of the era. Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and G.K. Chesterton were all members, alongside writers including Anthony Berkeley, Ronald Knox, Freeman Wills Crofts and Baroness Orczy. Members met socially, discussed the technical side of crime writing and occasionally collaborated on books. One of the best-known examples is The Floating Admiral, a 1931 novel in which different members contributed successive chapters.
The club was also closely associated with the idea of “fair play” detective fiction, in which readers should be given a reasonable opportunity to solve the mystery alongside the fictional detective.
That principle is perhaps best remembered through Detection Club member Ronald Knox’s famous ‘Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction'. Published shortly before the club was formally established, Knox’s rules attempted to define what a fair Golden Age mystery should and shouldn’t do, covering everything from hidden clues and secret passages to supernatural explanations and surprise twins.
Chesterton served as the Detection Club’s first president. Sayers later held the presidency, followed by Christie, who remained president until her death in 1976.
Who’s in the Cast of The Detection Club?
Miles Jupp (The Man Who Invented Christmas) plays G.K. Chesterton, the writer perhaps best remembered by mystery fans as the creator of Father Brown. Bryony Hannah stars as Agatha Christie, whose Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries would make her one of the most successful novelists in publishing history. Hannah will be familiar to many British TV viewers as Cynthia Miller in Call the Midwife, with more recent credits including Rivals. Cara Theobold (Downton Abbey, The Syndicate) plays Dorothy L. Sayers, creator of aristocratic amateur detective Lord Peter Wimsey.
Viraj Juneja (Little English) plays D.I. Greenway, the young professional detective whose cases become entangled with the writers’ amateur investigations.
Further casting has yet to be announced.
Who’s Making The Detection Club?
The series was created for television by Kit Lambert, whose previous mystery credits include Father Brown, Cooper & Fry and Whitstable Pearl. It's based on an original idea by crime writer Simon Brett, himself a longtime member of the real Detection Club.
Hans Herbots (The Serpent, This Is Not a Murder Mystery) is directing the first two episodes. Deborah Sathe, Kit Lambert and Neil Irvine serve as executive producers for BBC Studios, with Stephen Nye executive producing for BritBox. Lee Thomas is the series producer.
BBC Studios Drama Productions is producing the series, with BBC Studios also handling global sales. Filming is taking place across the West Midlands, with locations in the region standing in for 1930s London.
When Will The Detection Club Premiere?
Given that they're currently filming, it's still far too soon to have a premiere date – but we do know where you'll be able to watch it.
In the UK, The Detection Club is being made for the BBC, with further transmission details to be announced. For American viewers, there is considerably more certainty about where it will eventually appear: The Detection Club is a BritBox North America commission, and BritBox is directly involved in the production – so that's where you can expect to see it when it makes its US debut.
