The BBC deepfaked Agatha Christie to teach a writing course
- BBC Studios has created a digital class called “Agatha Christie Writing” that teaches aspiring writers how to craft a perfect crime novel using AI-generated content.
- The class features Agatha Christie’s voice and likeness, recreated using real-life actor Vivien Keene and AI augmentation, with the goal of making it appear as if Christie is teaching herself.
- The class includes 11 video lessons and 12 exercises, covering topics such as structuring a plot and building suspense, all presented in Agatha Christie’s “own words” according to her great-grandson James Prichard.
- BBC collaborated with the Agatha Christie Estate to create the class, using restored audio recordings, licensed images, interviews, and her own writings to ensure the content appears human-made.
- The class is available now on BBC Maestro’s online course service for $10 per month, offering a unique opportunity for aspiring writers to learn from one of literature’s most iconic authors.
BBC Studios is using AI to recreate the voice and likeness of late detective story author Agatha Christie for the purpose of featuring it in digital classes that teaches prospective writers “how to craft the perfect crime novel.” A real life actor, Vivien Keene, is standing in for Christie, with her appearance augmented by AI to resemble the author.
The new class, called Agatha Christie Writing, is available today on BBC Maestro, the company’s $10-per-month online course service that usually gives you access to content from living professionals teaching things like graphic design, bread making, time management, and more.
Deepfaked Agatha Christie’s teachings are “in Agatha’s very own words,” her great-grandson James Prichard said in a press release. It uses insights from the real Christie and is scripted by academics — so the actual content appears to be human-made and not generated from a model that’s been fed all of her work. BBC collaborated with Agatha Christie Estate and used restored audio recordings, licensed images, interviews, and her own writings to make this all happen.
Live now, the class has 11 video lessons with 12 exercises for prospective writing students, including how to “structure an airtight plot” and “build suspense.”